Countryside Copper Guarantee
Back Alison Bennett's Campaign for better rural policing
Local Liberal Democrat MP Alison Bennett is calling for specialist rural crime teams to be embedded in every police force in England and Wales.
The Countryside Copper Guarantee would see forces such as Sussex Police having dedicated rural crime teams, appointing a named contact for rural communities, and officers given better access to technology, such as drones, to enable effective policing across large rural areas.
1 in 5 people who live in rural areas consider leaving due to fear of crime, while nearly half believe the Police do not take rural crime seriously. Both Labour and the Conservatives have neglected rural crime. Under the previous Conservative government less than 1 in 1000 police across England and Wales were dedicated to tackling rural crime. Sussex had only 13 police assigned to the rural crime team.
At the same time, the office of the Conservative Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner cost taxpayers nearly £2.5m in one year — enough for the salaries of 74 new police officers. Liberal Democrats would scrap the role of the Police and Crime Commissioners to fund the Countryside Copper Guarantee.
Countryside Copper Guarantee
Sign the petition below for a Countryside Copper Guarantee, funded by scrapping the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.