A Morning with the Rural Crime Taskforce

Mark and I spent a fascinating morning with Alasdair, a Police Constable with the Rural Crime Taskforce of Thames Valley Police, gaining a real insight into the challenges and realities of policing our rural communities.

We began with a visit to W C Green & Son, a long-established farming business in the village of Combe, Oxfordshire. Much of our conversation took place standing in the farmyard, chatting while looking over some remarkable pieces of equipment, including a vast, state-of-the-art combine harvester.

The scale and sophistication of modern agricultural machinery is extraordinary. I grew up in rural Gloucestershire, and the combines I remember from those days seemed impressive enough at the time. But standing beside today’s machines - with their advanced electronics, tracking systems and sheer size - you realise just how dramatically farming technology has evolved.

Our discussion quickly turned to some of the issues affecting rural communities. Plant theft remains a significant concern. Modern farm machinery is hugely valuable and increasingly targeted by organised criminals. Encouragingly, technology is also becoming part of the solution, with sophisticated tagging and vehicle-tracking systems helping farmers and police to monitor equipment and recover stolen machinery.

We also talked about hare coursing, which has caused serious disruption and distress to rural communities in recent years. Thames Valley Police have made real progress in deterring organised coursing gangs through intelligence-led operations and stronger enforcement. Other challenges also arise from time to time, including lamping and other forms of illegal activity in the countryside.

After our visit to the farm, we spent some time driving around Alasdair’s patch. Rural policing covers a large and varied area, and it requires not only knowledge of the landscape but also strong relationships with the people who live and work within it.

During the morning we also visited a local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller site as part of the ongoing relationship-building work that is such an important part of community policing. Open communication and trust can often prevent small concerns from escalating into larger problems.

We also stopped briefly at Diddly Squat Farm, near Chipping Norton, made famous through Jeremy Clarkson’s television series Clarkson's Farm. Whatever people may think of the programme, it has certainly brought national attention to the realities of farming life and the pressures faced by rural businesses.

Then, on the drive back from Chipping Norton, the morning suddenly took an unexpected turn.

A call came through reporting that someone had collapsed on a rural road. Within seconds the blue lights were on and we were heading quickly to the scene.

When we arrived, two very thoughtful members of the public had already stopped to help. The man had suffered what appeared to have been a seizure. Alasdair quickly assessed the situation and we stayed with him until an ambulance arrived. Thankfully he was soon transferred into the care of the paramedics and taken on for further medical support.

It was a powerful reminder of how unpredictable policing can be. One moment discussing farm security in a quiet village, the next responding to a medical emergency on a country road.

What struck me most throughout the morning was the extraordinary breadth of the rural policing role. From tackling organised crime to building relationships across communities, from protecting farms and wildlife to responding to emergencies, officers like Alasdair provide an essential service across our countryside.

Mark and I left with a deep appreciation for the professionalism, commitment and local knowledge that rural policing requires.

Our rural communities may be peaceful and beautiful places to live, but keeping them safe requires vigilance, partnership and dedication. I am deeply grateful to the officers of Thames Valley Police who carry out this work every day, often quietly and without recognition, across the towns, villages and fields of our county.