Get Involved With Rural Watch

Rural communities across Shropshire are proving how effective it is to "get involved" by signing up to help tackle crime in their villages and hamlets.

Rural Watch, an information sharing and advice scheme set up in Shropshire last year, now has more than 570 members across the county and continues to go from strength to strength.

It also deters criminal activity with high visibility promotion in rural areas and has already proved an effective way of quickly disseminating important warnings and crime prevention advice to members.

In addition to regular newsletters, Rural Watch also uses Shropshire Community Messaging, a computer system formerly known as Ringmaster that allows urgent police alerts to be sent instantly to all crime prevention groups in the county.

Although Shropshire remains a low crime area compared to many others in the UK, police are committed to bringing this level down even further and schemes such as Rural Watch are an important part of that.

Although rural crime, like others, remains fairly low in the county, people have been victims of crimes such as theft of farm machinery, fuel or livestock.

Rural Watch works in a similar way to the better-known Shop Watch and Pub Watch schemes, which operate in most towns across Shropshire to share information to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Sergeant Ed Hancox, from Shropshire Division's Local Policing Support Team, said police were always working to improve things for those living and working in the county.

"Rural Watch is a connection between you, the police and other members of the community which helps inform you about any potential threats to property and also allows police to issue crime prevention advice quickly and easily," he said.

"Just as importantly, members of the community are able to share any information they might have, such as suspicious vehicles or persons, with the police, other farmers and businesses.

"Signs go up around areas which have a scheme in place to advertise its existence to potential criminals."

Feedback from Rural Watch members across the county has been very positive and the connection to Shropshire Community Messaging has also been welcomed by members.

"Shropshire Community Messaging instantly distributes information about crime and warnings via email, voice message or even text message," added Sergeant Hancox.

"It means warnings and appeals for information can be issued within hours of an incident taking place to the relevant people."

Messages are sent to Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators, Pub Watch, Shop Watch and Rural Watch members, who can then pass on the information to other members of their group, but anybody can sign up to receive the alerts.

For more information about Shropshire Community Messaging, visit www.safer-shropshire.org

People interested in setting up a Rural Watch scheme in their area can contact their Local Policing Team, details of which are available at www.westmercia.police.uk