Rural Crime

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 9 February 2015.

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Photo of Lynne Featherstone Lynne Featherstone The Minister of State, Home Department 2:30, 9 February 2015

I thank my hon. Friend, and I agree that it is a heinous crime—and it is animal cruelty, in fact. Police and crime commissioners are making crime in rural areas a priority, and over 60% of PCCs in England and Wales have joined the National Rural Crime Network. That includes an online resource that allows police and partners and others to share information, training and case studies. Although we have no plans to introduce the criminal offence that my hon. Friend suggests, together with this kind of communication, organisations such as Horsewatch and Farm Watch can bring such crime down.