Bedfordshire PCC John Tizard Listens to the rural community

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Tizard hosted a joint conference with Freya Morgan, Chair, the National Farmers’ Union for Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire, and Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy at Keysoe Village Hall. 

At the well-attended conference, participants from parish councils, rural businesses and farming community raised a number of issues including understanding and appreciation of specific issues including the challenges of crimes affecting them and their neighbours, as well as the issues of firearms applications and renewals, thefts, and hare coursing, as the season is now underway.  

Assistant Chief Constable, John Murphy also said Bedfordshire Police take crime in rural areas very seriously and have taken the following actions, which resulted in:  

• 110 arrests relating to rural crime  

• 12 vehicle seizures  

• Drugs seizure - various amount totalling seven kilos of controlled drugs 

• Six hare coursing dogs seized over the last six months  

• 11 stolen farm vehicles recovered over the last six months  

Bedfordshire is one of the counties that has maintained a specialist rural crime team, to compliment the community policing teams in the rural areas.  

During the meeting, the PCC acknowledged that the joint Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire, firearms department’s current performance was very poor, and he apologised for the continuing failure to provide a quality and responsive service. He was also pushing with his PCC colleagues to hold the three Chief Constables to account to secure fast and sustainable improvement. 

NFU Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire Chair Freya Morgan said: “We acknowledge the success Bedfordshire police have had relating to previous criminal activity but still have a way to go.  Our members have major concerns about the current levels of rural crime in our county, particularly with police resourcing issues in recent months. 

“It was good to be part of this meeting, to raise those concerns and discuss how we can work together moving forward. 

“Bedfordshire is facing several challenges related to major developments, including a planned new town, the East West Rail scheme and the Universal Studios project. We need increased policing resources, along with others, to cope with the changing face of the county. 

“We will continue to make the case by writing to and engaging with MPs, highlighting the need for more resourcing for policing in Bedfordshire.  We are looking forward to working closely with the PCC and Bedfordshire Police to ensure improvements can be made. “ 

The PCC has committed to continue working at the National Farmers’ Union and will be convening a further meeting of his next Rural Crime Advisory Panel.   

Mr Tizard concluded by thanking all who attended and contributed to the Panel, reaffirming his commitment to keeping Bedfordshire’s rural communities safe for all.