This week Devon and Cornwall Police are running a series of events to celebrate and share the work that goes on year-round to help prevent rural crime and to safeguard landowners, farmers, and animals.

Rural affairs officers PC Chris Collins in Cornwall and PC Martin Beck in Devon are working with neighbourhood teams across the force area on a series of engagement events to meet the public and share information on rural crime.

On Sunday October 6, PC Chris Collins along with the Helston neighbourhood team and police cadets spoke to farmers at the Helston Farmers Market and raised awareness of livestock worrying at Roughtor and on Bodmin Moor.

PC Collins said: “We were very pleased with the number of people that we spoke to on Bodmin Moor, and received a lot of positive feedback. The moors are a unique environment and we would always ask people to treat them with respect.”

PC Martin Beck said: “We work closely with neighbourhood teams to deliver a range of initiatives aimed at reducing and detecting rural crime, and in turn Devon & Cornwall Police has a range of invaluable partnership arrangements with organisations whose main focus is the rural community and rural business.

“At any time of the year, not just during this week where we focus on rural issues, we would urge the public in our rural communities, whether they are farmers or members of the public, to stay in touch with us and what we do. There are range of methods of doing this such as Farm Watch, Devon & Cornwall Alert and the forthcoming Cold Callers Scheme.”

READ MORE: Farmers in south west warned to be prepared against seasonal hare coursing

Rural Crime Week: activities

On Monday October 7 and equine safety engagement and tack marking event took place at Bickleigh.

On Tuesday October 8 there was a Rural Crime Surgery at Mole Valley farmers in Liskeard.

Today (Wednesday October 9), a Rural Crime Surgery will be taking place at the Truro livestock market. Engagement activities will also take place at the Tavistock Goose Fair.

On Thursday October 10 there will be a Rural Crime Surgery at Hallworthy and an awareness raising event on Dartmoor of theft from vehicles and livestock worrying.

Finally, on Friday October 11, a Rural Crime Surgery will be running at Cornwall Farmers Ltd in Wadebridge and at Exeter Farmers Market.

READ MORE: Attempted theft of farm machinery near Wadebridge