Crimes and priorities
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Priority:
Action taken:
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Priority:
Wildlife crime issues.
Action taken:
A vehicle was stopped in Shadoxhurst as the driver was disqualified. The vehicle had travelled from out of the district, and this is consistent with offenders targeting our rural community. A further 2 vehicles were pursued by police to disrupt offenders. One vehicle was eventually stopped and multiple persons were arrested. Finally, a further vehicle was seized linked to wildlife crime in Sussex. This is an example of joint border work where offenders move between forces to commit wildlife crimes. During these collaborative patrols, intelligence is shared to disrupt long-term offending.
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Priority:
Farm equipment theft.
Action taken:
Property marking events have taken place at the Cattle Auction Sales at Ashford Cattle Market. This gives farmers and businesses to protect their property. By marking agricultural machinery, it is less attractive to thieves and easier for police to identify once recovered. We have continued to patrol rural areas and hotspots of note following feedback from the rural community via FarmWatch.
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Priority:
Antisocial behaviour - nuisance.
Action taken:
Officers continue to tackle nuisance motorcycles and antisocial vehicle use in the Warehorne, Hamstreet and Finberry areas through targeted patrols and enforcement activity. Following reports of a noisy vehicle being driven at excessive speeds in Warehorne and Hamstreet, officers identified the driver and issued a Section 59 warning. A Section 59 warning can be issued when a vehicle is being used in a way that causes alarm, distress or annoyance to others, and continued offending may result in the vehicle being seized.
Officers have also carried out speed checks on rural roads, stopping drivers and providing advice and education where appropriate to encourage safer driving. In Finberry, additional patrols have been carried out following reports of motorcycles being ridden in an antisocial manner, and intelligence is being developed to identify those responsible. Through ongoing patrols, enforcement and community engagement, officers continue to address road safety concerns and reduce the impact of nuisance vehicles on local residents.