Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) recognised with UK-wide industry award

The Police Scotland-chaired Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) has this week been named Best Team at the UK Combined Industries Theft Solutions Conference following a surprise nomination.

Chaired by Inspector Alan Dron, SPARC has been the key driver behind a strategic vision to co-ordinate cohesive and sustained crime prevention advice tailored to rural communities. The group also supports intelligence gathering which frequently results in enforcement activity, while contributing to regular reassurance messaging applicable to rural dwellers and businesses, regardless of their geographical locations.

As a result, representatives of Scotland’s rural communities and environments have fed back that SPARC has given them confidence that any crime-related issues affecting them are taken seriously, acted upon and understood.

Inspector Dron, accompanied by Sergeant Carly Bryce (National Rural & Acquisitive Crime Unit: Prevention, Partnership & Community Wellbeing division), were attending the UK-wide event at JCB World Headquarters in Staffordshire when they learned of their nomination, which, unbeknown to them, has been proposed by industry members and policing representatives across the country.