FEATURE
Country Watch plants itself
into rural community
I
t’s now five years on since Hampshire
Constabulary carried out a complete
“root and branch” review of how it
responded to the issues around rural
crime and engagement.
“We launched the Country Watch
scheme on the Island, because we
wanted to ensure the rural community
felt confident in reporting their concerns
to the police” said Sgt Mark Lyth who
heads up the scheme here on the Island.
Since then Mark and his team, based
at Yarmouth, have seen the scheme
membership grow strongly to around
500 members. “We see the members as
our eyes and ears out in the countryside”
said Mark. “Without them passing us
information our job would be near
impossible. For the scheme to work we
needed to make sure our members had
the confidence to contact us, knowing
not only would we be interested in their
concerns, but we would also act on
them”.
In simple terms, Country Watch is a
neighbourhood watch type scheme
whereby people who live and work in
the rural community have direct access
to a small, but dedicated team of officers
and staff. Sgt Lyth is supported by PC
Tim Campany and PCSOs Cat Quinn
and Justin Keefe. All of the officers are
part of the West Wight Neighbourhood
Policing Team and carry out their
Country Watch duties in addition to their
neighbourhood roles.
Country Watch brings together all of
Hampshire Constabulary’s rural policing
response under the one umbrella. The
team are involved in dealing with wildlife
crime in all its forms with Mark and Tim
“We see the
members as our eyes
and ears out in the
countryside.”
nationally qualified wildlife crime officers.
They also provide the Island’s hunt liaison
officers who’s duty it is to ensure that
both sides of the hunting debate can go
about their lawful activities. They also coordinate the Island’s equine liaison officer.
The work they do is as diverse as the
countryside around them and brings
them into contact with a multitude
of other agencies and charities. They
regularly work alongside the RSPCA, IW
Council, Environment Agency and the
National Trust. Recent investigations
have included badger sett interference to
allegations of illegally imported Tunisian
tortoises onto the Island.
The Island’s scheme compliments the
work being done in Hampshire and
concentrates on the Constabulary’s rural
priorities. These are combating rural
theft, poaching, fly tipping and nuisance
vehicles as well as dealing with issues
that are specific to the Island.
“We are fortunate that here on the
Island we don’t suffer with some of the
high value plant and equipment theft
colleagues on the mainland deal with
but the crime we get still has a significant
impact on the victim.
“We strive to investigate all lines
of enquiry during any investigation
and support the victim throughout
their involvement with us. We provide
reassurance for the victim and witnesses
and follow up security visits to remote
rural locations” said Mark. “Focus on
the victim will always be our paramount
concern”.
If anyone wants further information
with regards the IOW Country Watch
scheme please email the team at
[email protected].
uk and place IOW in the subject field.
Alternatively, please call the team on 101.
www.visitilife.com
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