PCC joins rural crime patrol as new forensic marking scheme gets funding boost

Ahead of Rural Crime awareness week, Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards has joined officers targeting hare coursing and fly tipping as part of his drive to protect Hertfordshire’s rural communities, alongside new investment in technology to help deter and detect rural crime.

The Commissioner joined the Hitchin Neighbourhood Policing Team on a dedicated evening operation, carrying out high-visibility patrols along the Hertfordshire borders with Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, responding to reports of suspected hare coursing and engaging directly with farmers.

During the patrol, officers responded to reports of suspected hare coursing near Ashwell carrying out enquiries and speaking with local farmers, gathering information and providing reassurance that the matter was being actively investigated.

The operation gave the Commissioner an opportunity to see first-hand the challenges faced by rural communities and the work officers undertake to tackle crimes which can have a significant impact on farmers, landowners and residents.

It comes as the Commissioner has agreed funding for a new pilot using SelectaDNA Metallic Spray, which will give rural officers another tool to deter offending and help identify vehicles and equipment linked to rural crime.

Under the scheme, officers will carry SelectaDNA spray canisters during patrols. The spray contains a unique DNA code which can be applied to waste or other material being deposited from a vehicle, creating a forensic link between the waste and the vehicle from which it was dumped.

If the marked material is subsequently discovered at a fly-tipping site, officers can use the unique code to help trace it back to the vehicle involved, providing an additional investigative tool.

The initial pilot will see 50 SelectaDNA spray canisters used to assess their effectiveness as both a deterrent and an investigative tool in tackling fly-tipping.

The equipment is easy for officers to carry and use during patrols and can also have wider applications in tackling rural crime, including protecting bicycles, agricultural equipment and other property.

During the patrol, officers also demonstrated how Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology supports intelligence-led policing.

The Commissioner was shown how ANPR can identify vehicles linked to criminality, track movements across county borders and help officers prevent and detect offences in rural areas. Officers also explained the different risk gradings assigned to ANPR markers, helping determine the priority and urgency of police responses.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire, said:

“Rural crime can have a significant impact on farmers, businesses and communities, and people living in our countryside should be confident that offences such as hare coursing and fly-tipping are being taken seriously.

“It was valuable to join our neighbourhood officers on patrol in North Herts and see first-hand both the challenges they face and the proactive work taking place to protect our countryside.

“Criminals don't respect county boundaries, which is why intelligence, technology and working across borders are so important in tackling rural crime.

“I also want to make sure police officers have the right tools for the job. That is why I have agreed funding to pilot SelectaDNA forensic marking sprays, giving officers another innovative way of deterring offending and potentially linking those responsible for fly-tipping directly to the evidence they leave behind.

“Whether through visible patrols, working closely with farmers, using ANPR to identify suspicious vehicles or investing in new technology, the message is clear: we are determined to protect our rural communities from crime".

The operation forms part of ongoing work by Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Police and Crime Commissioner to tackle rural crime and strengthen relationships between police, farmers and rural communities.

Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity and rural crime to police. Information from the public helps officers build intelligence, identify patterns of offending and target patrols where they are most needed.