Police defend rural crime record

Police said they were tackling rural crime

A Dyfed-Powys Police chief has strongly defended the force's record after an AM accused officers of not taking thefts on isolated farms seriously enough.

Acting Supt Steve Hughson said the force had set up a number of projects to tackle rural crime.

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has written to the chief constable following a spate of thefts.

Tools and machinery worth thousands of pounds have been stolen in raids in north Powys over the last few months.

Mr Bates, a Liberal Democrat AM, has arranged a meeting with farmers and police on Friday to discuss the issue.

Properties in the rural communities of Llanfyllin, Llansantffraid, Llansilin, Llanfair Caereinion and Moelfre have been raided in the last few months.

Powys police have worked hard over the last two years to raise the issue of rural crime onto the political landscape Acting Supt Steve Hughson

"These crimes are just getting out of hand and I just don't think officers are taking them seriously enough. Farmers have had enough," he said.

But Mr Hughson denied the claims and said Powys was the safest place to live in Wales and England.

Acting Supt Hughson said: "Powys police have worked hard over the last two years to raise the issue of rural crime onto the political landscape.

"We set up a rural crime partnership, initially in response to the numbers of reported sheep thefts within the county.

"With considerable success in terms of prosecution of some individuals and a reduction in offences compared to last year, we have turned our attention to the wider issue of rural business crime, for example theft of quad bikes, trailers and tools."

He added that the force had also worked with the Welsh Assembly Government to help reduce rural crime.