National Rural Crime Network

Elect the NRCN chair

This year we have an election for the position of Chair of the NRCN Board. As a member of the NRCN, you have been invited to vote for your preference. Please see below the statements from both the candidates.

Tim Passmore

Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk​

I am putting myself forward to be re-elected as chair of the NRCN, having had the privilege of being chairman for the last three years. I have a farming background and have lived in Suffolk all my life and have had extensive business experience in the rural and agricultural economy nationally and across four continents.

Whilst good progress has been made on raising the profile of the serious and damaging consequences of crime especially for the victims much work remains to be done to ensure the issue is taken far more seriously by all levels of government, The Home Office, Ministry of Justice and DEFRA.

Set out below are some key issues the NRCN I suggest the network continues to address subject to the wishes of the membership and board.

  • Adoption of the 10-point plan for confronting serious and organised crime in the countryside
    across England and Wales (sentencing, prioritising rural crime, victims code etc)
  • Full economic impact assessment of rural crime – this should assist with better allocation of
    policing resources
  • More financial and political support for NaVCIS to combat 4WD, plant and machinery theft
    often by OCGs
  • Better understanding of the implications of heritage crime in rural areas and development of
    force/ regional expertise
  • Police funding formula discriminates against rural force areas
  • Firearms licensing nationally needs to be improved
  • Wildlife Crime including hare coursing and raptor persecution needs full sentencing guidelines
    applied by the courts
  • A far better multi agency initiative on tackling fly-tipping and waste crime in general
  • The criminal gangs involved in illegal drug supplies are affecting rural communities and needs
    to be taken far more seriously
  • Lack of government action on unauthorised / illegal traveller encampments must be
    addressed
  • Continue to lobby the government for inclusion of power tools and GPS systems in the
    forthcoming secondary legislation of the Machinery Theft (Prevention) Act 2023
  • Food chain crime including biosecurity needs to be taken seriously by DEFRA as there are
    many world-class food and drink brands in the UK
  • Use of WhatsApp – or equivalent communication methods for rural areas that continue to
    suffer from poorer broadband and mobile phone connectivity
  • Domestic abuse and serious sexual offences take place in rural areas and often do not receive
    the attention they deserve due to isolation and remoteness

Rural homes and business pay their share of taxes and deserve a much better share of policing resources, especially as the pattern of crime has changed with every crime now having a digital footprint regardless of urban of rural location.

Your sincerely,

Dan Price

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire

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