Rural crime taskforce win Thames Valley Police 'Excellence Award'

The rural crime taskforce has won a Thames Valley Police Federation Excellence Award for its work in tackling serious and organised rural crime.

Rural crimes are offences that relate to farms, agriculture, wildlife, the environment and heritage sites, which are often targeted due to their isolation.

Crimes range from harm to animals to the theft of vital equipment, causing distress and hardship to farmers who rely on their land and machinery for their livelihoods.

The Thames Valley Rural Crime Taskforce was formed in March 2022 with the aim of creating a hostile environment for those who commit rural crime.