Harper Adams Tackling Rural Crime

Posted 7 September 2007

Harper Adams University College, Shropshire, welcomed delegates from across the country to a leading Rural Crime Conference on Thursday 6th September. Prominent guest speakers, experts in their specialised fields, focussed on real issues of crime in rural areas, including drugs and associated violent crime as well as some of the less recognised topics of wildlife and tourism crime, exploitation of migrant workers and threats to the rural infrastructure. The conference was chaired by James Brokenshire MP, a front bench Shadow Home Affairs Minister. 

Rural crime is not a static issue. Recent industry surveys have highlighted concerns from rural communities about rising theft, violence and property crime in the countryside. As a direct result this prestigious conference considered and tackled issues such as the current and emerging trends in rural crime and explored innovations and best practice in reducing levels of crime in key areas. Representatives from community development and rural regeneration organisations, local authorities, crime reduction partnerships, the police service and rural agencies were able to network, discuss solutions, share knowledge and experiences at an operational level of how their organisations are tackling specific issues and ask questions to the expert panel of speakers.

Harper Adams were also extremely proud to introduce Sergeant Ronald Lord from Guelph Police Service Ontario, one of the leading community policing strategists in Eastern Canada. Sgt Lord shared his experiences associated with the problems of policing in small communities and the methods in which many successful strategies were introduced.

Dr. Richard Byrne, Conference Co-ordinator said “Delegate feedback has been extremely complimentary especially in regard to the high calibre speakers and the specialised topics included within the programme. It is encouraging that there is such a serious approach to the wide range of problems associated with rural crime.”

Due to the positive feedback and response to this conference, Harper Adams will be arranging a series of seminars focusing on specific areas of rural crime. These will be launched in the New Year.

For further details on further Rural Crime Seminars and other conferences and courses please contact The Conference Office on 01952 8153000 or visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk/shortcourses

Chair:
James Brokenshire MP, Serving Hornchurch and Rainham. Front Bench Shadow Home Affairs Minister

Guest Speakers included:
Dr. Rosie Meek – Speaking on Rural Youth Crime       
Lecturer in Criminology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Southampton
Carol Jones – Speaking on Tourism Crime      
Lecturer in Criminology in Department of Social and Community Studies at the University of Chester
Sergeant Ronald Lord – Speaking on Rural Crime and the ways in which his Canadian Force have implemented successful reduction strategies
Communications Officer, Guelph Police Service, Ontario, Canada
Chris Kerr – Speaking on Wildlife Crime
Head of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit
Tony D’Agostino – Speaking on Methamphetamine in Rural Areas
Training Manager of COCA, the UK’s leading drug charity dealing with methamphetamine
Detective Sergeant Andy Waite – Speaking on Reducing Drugs in Rural Areas
Drugs Intelligence and Drugs Strategy Coordinator for Hampshire Police
Aiden McQuade – Speaking on Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Rural Areas
Director of Anti-Slavery International
Representative from the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructur