The rural villages and farms of West Sussex are facing an epidemic of crime, including vandalism, theft of equipment, and fly-tipping.
Paul Richards, speaking at Wisborough Green Village Hall, in the Arundel and South Downs constituency, told his audience that tackling rural crime would be a priority for Labour.
‘I’m hearing from rural communities that crime and antisocial behaviour is out of control. The problem is criminal gangs targeting farms for lucrative equipment such as GPS systems. And it is antisocial behaviour because some young people have nowhere to go after school or college’.
‘As police and crime commissioner, I would open four new rural crime hubs, including two in West Sussex to improve local intelligence-gathering and speed up police response times. And I will re-introduce neighbourhood police teams, enmeshed in the communities they serve, to prevent crime and reassure the public.’
‘The truth is that after 14 years, the Tories have failed on crime. Cutting 20,000 police was a huge error, and we have all paid the price, especially in the rural areas. That’s why it is time for change.’
Paul Richards is the Labour & Co-operative candidate for Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner. The election is on Thursday 2 May 2024.
