13th December 2007

(The picture shows CSO Stephanie Annette (left) and PC Jill Richardson with one of the first 'Rural Watch' signs to go up in Bredenbury) Rural Watch is ‘eyes and ears’ of the countryside A new scheme to tackle crime in rural areas is now up-and-running in the Bromyard area, helping to provide extra ‘eyes and ears’ for the countryside. Rural Watch has been established by the police and rural farms and businesses in a bid to deter crime in the more remote areas of the county. “It’s similar to the established Neighbourhood Watch schemes and we hold meetings to discuss rural crimes, such as theft of scrap metal, vehicles and farm machinery, as well as house burglaries and break-ins to sheds and outbuildings,” said PC Jill Richardson, who has helped set up the scheme as part of her role as Local Police Officer for the Bromyard Rural area. “It’s a two-way information sharing scheme, where we issue bulletins about such things as suspicious activities or unusual vehicles in the vicinity - and we in turn receive information about anything that arouses suspicions in the community. “While crime is at a low level in Herefordshire overall, it is still present in our rural areas and that historically this has affected isolated farms and businesses as well as rural homes. Rural Watch aims to further promote the close community feel that often exists in these locations, with an ‘eyes and ears’ approach to crime prevention that brings together the police and the rural communities,” added PC Richardson. Rural Watch is already proving its value and anyone in the Bromyard area wanting to join - and receive special stickers or sign boards for their farm or rural business - can contact PC Richardshon on 07816 548932 or the Bromyard Rural Local Policing Team on 01432 346713. You can also contact PC Richardson by email at jill.richardson@westmercia.pnn.police.uk HOW DO I JOIN NORTH HEREFORDSHIRE RURAL WATCH? All you have to do is initially complete an application form (available from PC Richardson) and post it to- Local Policing Officer PC 3762 RICHARDSON BROMYARD POLICE STATION NEW ROAD BROMYARD HEREFORDSHIRE HR7 4AJ Mobile 07816548932.