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📣 Wantage & Grove NHPT 📣 Last week, officers from Wantage & Grove NHPT spent two days conducting dedicated rural crime patrols across our patch, with the assistance of the Farming community who were our ears and eyes.
We targeted routes and locations linked to rural thefts, hare coursing and other crimes affecting our countryside communities. These patrols are vital in helping us gather intelligence, disrupt criminal activity and provide reassurance to those who live and work in our rural areas. During one evening patrol, officers spotted a fire in the distance.
As we got closer, we discovered around 20-30 teenagers gathered in an abandoned barn, where two fires had been lit in a wooded area surrounded by bone-dry fields following the recent prolonged dry weather.
We understand that young people will meet up with friends and make memories, but lighting fires in these conditions posed a serious risk to the surrounding countryside, farmland and wildlife. Officers dispersed the group and ensured both fires were fully extinguished.
One member of the team has always wanted to be a firefighter, so this was finally their moment! In all seriousness, this is one of the most reckless things we have come across in some time.
We would urge parents and guardians to speak with their teenagers about the dangers of lighting fires, especially during such dry conditions.
What might seem like harmless fun could very quickly have led to a major incident. Thank you to everyone who continues to report suspicious activity and share information with us. Your support plays a vital role in helping us keep our communities safe.
🚜 🌾 🚓 If you see anything suspicious in our rural areas, please report it to Thames Valley Police via 101, online, or 999 in an emergency. 
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