Rural Policing Improving, Farmers Tell Hampshire PCC

Farmers and landowners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight say rural policing has noticeably improved over the past year, despite continuing problems with hare coursing, fish poaching and fly-tipping.

The feedback was delivered directly to Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones during the latest Rural Engagement Forum, held at Apsley Farms near Andover, where countryside communities met with senior police leaders to discuss ongoing challenges.

Attendees — including landowners, farmers and gamekeepers — reported clear improvements in police response times and better recognition of the specific crimes affecting rural businesses. However, they stressed that routine contact with neighbourhood officers could still be better.

They said a growing awareness of rural crime among frontline officers was encouraging, particularly after Local Bobby training was expanded to incorporate specialist rural content with support from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and the National Farmers Union (NFU). The training now includes the financial impact of equipment and livestock theft, an overview of industry pressures, and the mental-health challenges faced by farmers, landowners and gamekeepers.

PCC Donna Jones said rural crime had been neglected in previous years, but that targeted investment was now reversing the trend.
“We have a large county police force, and we have been on a journey. Rural crime was not prioritised properly over the last decade, we are now recovering from that,” she said.

“Since becoming Police and Crime Commissioner, I made tackling rural crime one of my main priorities. These people, their businesses and the communities within which they live and work, have all suffered greatly from the impact of criminals in our countryside areas.”

Jones highlighted progress driven by increased officer numbers, the Local Bobby scheme and new equipment.
“However, through the investment I have made in the Rural Crime Task Force, in recruiting more officers, introducing the Local Bobby scheme, whilst also getting more drones and more of the right vehicles for countryside policing, we are getting there,” she said.

Feedback from large estates and landowners confirmed those improvements, she added.
“The feedback here from landowners and farmers from some of the largest estates across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is that police response times are good,” Jones said.

But she acknowledged more work is needed.
“We do need to improve further, with a proactive approach to ensure our rural communities know their Local Bobby, building local relationships which will result in an even more positive impact on these areas.”

Overall, Jones said the direction of travel was encouraging.
“Ultimately though, charge rates are going up in the rural community, crime rates are coming down, and the community are getting a good response time from police in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. That is most encouraging.”

Assistant Chief Constable Tara McGovern, the force’s lead for local policing, said the forum was a valuable opportunity to hear “reality-check” feedback.

“It is important to understand the reality of the impact of crimes and policing on the rural community,” she said.
“These landowners, farmers and gamekeepers are key stakeholders for us who are at the heart of their communities, and they are telling us about improvements they’ve seen in our policing, but that they’d like to see more. I would also like to see more.”

While attendees agreed policing had improved since last year, McGovern said the force was committed to further progress.
“We’ve heard that what we are doing in rural areas is better now than it was 12 months ago, but there are always further improvements to be made,” she said.
“Meetings like this are vitally important as they provide a total reality check on how things look and feel on the ground.”

The Rural Crime Task Force continues to use drones and targeted patrols to tackle hare coursing, and officers are monitoring links between offenders involved in hare coursing, fish poaching and waste crime.

Jones also vowed to strengthen efforts against salmon poaching, raising it with the National Rural Crime Board, and said she is lobbying for new laws allowing police to take a more direct role in tackling organised waste crime.

From January, the PCC’s Rural Engagement Forum will merge with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Rural Crime Partnership in a move aimed at expanding its reach and impact. The combined group will be chaired by ACC McGovern.

The next Rural Crime Partnership event is scheduled for February 2026.