Night patrols continue in rural Hampshire

Night patrols continue in rural Hampshire

The Country Watch Rural Crime Taskforce joined local rural Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) on Wednesday night as part of a planned Operation Galileo deployment across known hare coursing hotspots in Hampshire.

This was predominantly in north Hampshire, in particular in the rural parts of Winchester district.

The teams deployed across a number of areas which have been identified through intelligence-gathering and recent crime reports relating to hare coursing activity.

The purpose of the operation was to provide a visible presence which would deter or disrupt criminals, reassure local communities, and have units available to respond to any rural crime reports coming in.

Throughout the evening, officers conducted patrols across farmland tracks and rural roads. No rural crimes were reported during the night, however officers did encounter several vehicles of interest, some of which left the area upon seeing police.

Intelligence gathered during these encounters has been recorded and will assist ongoing investigations and future operational planning.

The evening’s patrols also provided an opportunity for police to engage with local gamekeepers, farmers and landowners to discuss concerns affecting their community, and to share information about rural crime.

High-visibility patrols of this nature remain a vital part of tackling rural crime. Alongside enforcement activity, intelligence gathered from local communities helps officers identify emerging trends, target resources effectively and plan further operations in the areas that have been affected most.

We continue to urge people to report incidents of hare coursing and suspicious vehicles and people by calling 101, or using the form on www.hampshire.police.uk  

If an incident is in progress, dial 999.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org

If you have a business connection to the rural environment in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, you can also download the EyesOn app which enables you to provide information directly to police, and also stay up to date on rural policing issues through news alerts: https://eyesonapp.com/download/