Lancashire Hosts Rural, Wildlife, and Heritage Crime Conference

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary, and Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC), proudly hosted the Rural, Wildlife, and Heritage Crime Conference, bringing together over 200 experts, practitioners, and community leaders to tackle the pressing issues affecting rural communities across the county.

Held at Mytton Fold, the conference focused on rural crime prevention and farm security, with a compelling keynote from Richard Wade, Director of Risk and Safety Compliance Service, who explored the question of who victimises rural areas and what can be done about it.

Delegates heard from a Professor of Criminology on the complex relationship between rural crime and farming, followed by the National Farmers Union, who shared insights into the challenges faced by farmers and landowners.

A highlight of the day was the engaging session with Channel 5 farming personalities Rob and Dave Nicholson from Cannon Hall Farm, offering a heartfelt glimpse into rural life and the resilience of farming communities.

Opening the Conference, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Kimberley Whitehead said: “This event sought to give rural communities a voice by exploring the issues and opportunities affecting our countryside.

“Rural crime remains a significant concern across Lancashire, with offences such as machinery and plant theft, livestock worrying and fly-tipping impacting farms, rural businesses and quality of life, and costing the economy millions of pounds every year.

“Tackling rural crime is a priority within Commissioner Clive Grunshaw’s Police and Crime Plan. He continues to support the work of the rural task forces he first introduced during his previous term in office, with a commitment to ensuring those living in rural areas receive the same level of policing service as urban communities. Like the Commissioner, I’m proud to see them continuing to make a real impact.

“This event reaffirms Lancashire’s collective commitment to safeguarding our rural communities, wildlife, and heritage through innovation, partnership, and proactive enforcement. Most importantly, it’s a chance to share experiences and help shape future approaches.”

Jo Oliver, Director of LANPAC and NFU (National Farmers Union) Representative said: “LANPAC is proud to support this important conference, which brings together key partners to address the challenges facing our rural communities and ensure vital prevention messages are shared. I’m also pleased to represent NFU Mutual and collaborate across the sector to strengthen our collective response to rural crime and promote safety and resilience across Lancashire.” – Jo Oliver, Director, LANPAC and NFU Mutual Representative

“I’m also pleased to represent both NFU and NFU Mutual in Lancashire and collaborate across the sector to strengthen our collective response to rural crime and promote safety and resilience across Lancashire.”

The conference also addressed critical social issues, including abuse in rural communities, modern slavery awareness, and cyber crime. Presentations from the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit and the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit highlighted national efforts to combat wildlife crime.

Supt Dave Hannan, Strategic Lead for Rural Crime at Lancashire Constabulary said:

“Rural crime is an issue for large areas of the county but often goes underreported, which makes it harder for us to tackle effectively. That’s why community engagement and intelligence sharing are absolutely vital.

“In Lancashire, we have five teams including more than 30 officers dedicated to tackling rural crime. This is one of the largest offerings of any UK police force and we are fully committed to supporting our rural communities to prevent crime.

“Through initiatives like rural watch schemes and targeted patrols, we’re working to deter offences such as farm equipment theft, wildlife crime, and fly-tipping. It’s also essential that our officers have specialist knowledge to deal with the unique challenges rural policing presents.”

Residents are urged to sign up to Lancashire Talking to share their views on local priorities and concerns: https://www.stayintheknow.co.uk/#SignUp

To report crime, visit Report a Crime or Incident – Lancashire Constabulary, call 101, or dial 999 in an emergency.