You said, we did: "Working closely with those who live and work in rural Essex means we can strengthen trust"
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is working closely with our rural communities and listening to their concerns by helping to set up the first Essex Rural Independent Advisory Group.
Borne out of a meeting between Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington, local farmers and the National Farmers’ Union, the Rural IAG will provide a direct line of communication between our rural communities and Essex Police.
The Essex Rural Independent Advisory Group will build upon the engagement success of the PFCC's Rural Crime Forum, which, since it's formation five years ago, has brought farmers, rural campaigners and bodies such as the Environment Agency, Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst says of the move:
"Rural communities are impacted by specific forms of anti-social behaviour and crime. The police response must recognise that and be able to work with rural communities to increase confidence.
"That is why establishing a Rural Independent Advisory Group is so important. By bringing together members of our Rural Crime Forum and representatives from across the rural community, it will help provide valuable insight, constructive challenge and independent scrutiny.
"Working closely with those who live and work in rural Essex means we can strengthen trust, improve communication and ensure policing continues to meet the needs of our rural communities."
Superintendent Darren Deex said:
“Setting up a Rural IAG was one of the Chief’s promises to our rural communities after he met with local farmers and the NFU. The first meeting is due to take place in early September so it really is a case of ‘you said, we did’.
“We know rural communities face unique challenges, so we must work with them, not just for them, to improve confidence and tackle issues and crimes which affect them.
“Setting up the Rural IAG will help us to do this by bringing together people who live and work in our rural communities for open, honest conversations about what matters to them.
“This will help the force shape our response to rural crime and policing, now and in the future, and to identify emerging issues and developing crime trends.
“We expect to be challenged by members when we don’t get it right and to work on practical solutions with them.”
Uttlesford farmer Matt Register welcomes the new Rural IAG. He says:
“It’s a fantastic idea. The Rural IAG will really help the rural community. And I think it will help Essex Police to better understand rural life because farming is not a job, it’s a way of life.
“I know that, from the outside, it can sometimes be difficult to fully appreciate the effects rural crime has on farmers and the rural community. It brings fear, intimidation and distress.
"That’s why I hope that, by working together with Essex Police – who I have the utmost respect for – the Rural IAG will help strengthen relationships between the police and our rural community, enabling us to learn from one another and work together to reduce rural crime."