| Hampshire launches new rural crime fighting initiative Members of the Hampshire Horsewatch scheme have joined forces with Hampshire Constabulary in the latest drive to tackle rural crime. Twelve riders have become police volunteers and will patrol on their horses across the county. At first glance, the Rural Mounted Patrols look like any other horserider out for a casual hack. But on closer inspection, their high visibility branded jackets and protective clothing for the horses, incorporating the recognisable blue and silver diced branding, identify them as part of the team. The volunteers will patrol the lanes, bridleways and country roads in areas across the county. At present these areas are Emsworth, Manor Farm and Country Park near Hedge End, Hook, the New Forest and Liphook. The Rural Mounted Patrols look out for anything suspicious and report back to the police control room. They provide high visibility patrols and liaise with the rural community in their area. Hampshire Horsewatch’s aims and objectives are directed towards crime prevention in an attempt to reduce and deter the many thieves who target equine equipment. It is community led and works in partnership with Hampshire Constabulary through its Equine Liaison Officer scheme. “Members of Hampshire Horsewatch becoming police volunteers enhance that partnership,” said David Collings, Hampshire Horsewatch co-ordinator and force Equine Liaison Officer for Hampshire Constabulary. "With the reduction of funding being experienced within the police service there is a need to be as dynamic and imaginative as we can to cover rural policing in Hampshire.” Rural crime encompasses a range of issues, including theft of property, fly-tipping, metal thefts, deer poaching and, occasionally, sheep rustling adding to communities’ concerns. As volunteers, the riders have no more power of arrest than any other citizen. The riders are not taskable; their patrols are intelligence/information led to give them purpose and enable them to be proactive. They will patrol an area they are familiar with, providing high visibility reassurance, engagement with communities, observe, liaise and report anything they see which warrants police attention. There is a regulatory process to be completed before a rider can become a police volunteer and a member of the patrol. A candidate must undergo an application procedure and security check. Both rider and horse must demonstrate competencies of on and off road work. Rural Mounted Patrol riders are issued with a high visibility jacket and head band and their horses are equipped with reflective sheets and leg wraps. As police volunteers, the riders and their horses are obliged to put in a certain amount of time each month, usually about eight hours. They are also expected to keep their tack in good order and make sure their horse is ‘clean and tidy". They do not get paid and have to provide their own horse. The initiative is supported by the force’s Country Watch officers, who lead on rural policing across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Chief Inspector Simon Dodds, the force’s lead on rural policing, said: “Having police volunteers on horseback is an exciting development in how rural areas of the force are patrolled. Working in partnership with rural neighbourhood teams, the riders will help combat crime in some of our more isolated communities.” ~Ends~ Notes to editors: A range of quotes from riders across the county have been provided for your use. I will send the photographs separately. LIPHOOK “Joining the rural mounted patrol allows me to patrol and make people aware of police presence in areas which are not accessible to vehicles. I am hoping to make an impact in the area and to build relationships with the local community.” Shannon Bowie Rural Mounted Patrol - Liphook BURSLEDON “We feel it is the duty of everyone in the community to help the police in any way they can. For us it has to be something with horses and when the opportunity came up to volunteer for the Rural Mounted Patrols we readily accepted. Hopefully we can make a difference.” John and Celia Norris Rural Mounted Patrol - Manor Farm and Country Park, Bursledon EMSWORTH “When our horses are out patrolling the lanes, bridleways and forests, we are able to get to areas that cannot be easily reached by car. We are a highly visual presence in the rural landscape and are trained to see and recognise things that might be unusual and out of the ordinary, or detrimental to other users – be it human or animal. It’s all about helping the rural police on difficult terrains, and putting something back into the community where we live and the countryside that we love.” Vanessa Dowling, Rebecca Dowling and Serena Hill Rural Mounted Patrol - Emsworth to Rowlands Castle NEW FOREST “The thin blue line has been stretched as far as it can go, so the rural community has to stand up and be counted. Having suffered from rural crime, but luckily our equipment was found and returned undamaged, it’s now ‘pay back time’. Both my horses, Groombridge and Kentucky, are recently retired from the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch and are still eager to go out on patrol. Groombridge is so big I can see over most people's hedges and obviously we don't need four wheel drive to go off road!"
Wendy Thairs Rural Mounted Patrol - Cadnam Lane, Kewlake, Stocks Cross, Bramshaw *********** “I enjoy riding, something I try and do every day. Being part of the mounted patrol allows me not only to support the police but the New Forest community to which I belong.” Bea Peters Rural Mounted Patrol - Western New Forest, Hordle as far as Bolderwood and Lyndhurst to the north, Beaulieu to the east and Milford on Sea to the south. ************ “I joined Hampshire Horsewatch because after seeing my youngest daughter off to school I felt I wanted to try and make a difference in my local community as well as spending time with my horses. This role gives me the opportunity to combine my passion for horses and a chance to use my knowledge of the area, to try and help in the fight to combat crime." Tracey Watts Rural Mounted Patrol - Marchwood and Fawley HOOK “I am happy to help the rural community. My pony and I enjoy riding the bridleways, farmland and around the local lanes. Meeting people and gaining their confidence in what I am doing is very satisfying.” Mary Rampton Rural Mounted Patrol - Tunworth, Mapeldurwell, Upton Grey, Greywell ************* “Being involved with the Mounted Rural Patrol gives us an opportunity to use our riding skills and experience in the hope of reducing crime within our local community. Our voluntary work provides additional support to rural police officers who are unable to cover the terrain we can. We see our role as building links between the local community and the local police.” Jayne Chewter and ‘Charley’ Sutherland Rural Mounted Patrol - Tunworth, Mapeldurwell, Upton Grey, Greywell, Weston Patrick Full details of the patrol areas are: New Forest - Marchwood and Fawley; Western New Forest (Hordle as far as Bolderwood and Lyndhurst to the north, Beaulieu to the east and Milford on Sea to the south); Cadnam Lane, Kewlake, Stocks Cross and Bramshaw Bursledon – Manor Farm and Country Park Emsworth – Emsworth to Rowlands Castle Liphook - Liss Forest to Old Thorns Hook – Tunworth, Mapledurwell, Upton Grey, Greywell Other forces, including Hertfordshire and Norfolk, have trained special constables to patrol on horseback. Avon and Somerset have volunteer riders as part of its active citizenship campaign working in conjunction with police patrols across the Exmoor National Park. Julie Jones 1886/30092013 01256 406487 Julie Jones BA (Hons) ACIPR
Corporate Communications Manager - Northern Area
Hampshire Constabulary
Aldershot Police Station
Wellington Avenue
Aldershot
GU11 1NZ Tel: 01256 406487
Internal: 601 269
E-mail: julie.jones@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
Website: www.hampshire.police.uk
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