CHESHIRE Police is providing a dedicated PCSO for each of the county’s 26 rural communities and ensuring every PCSO is trained in tackling rural issues.

The commitment is one of five to Cheshire residents to tackle rural and wildlife crime in Cheshire Police’s rural and wildlife policing strategy up to 2021.

The strategy commits to ensure every major rural event is attended by specialist rural officers, PCSOs visit all farms annually and each rural community is supported by two nights of rural action a year, to ensure each community has a Rural Watch scheme, to deliver prevention and enforcement of rural road safety issues and to work with neighbouring forces.

The strategy has been developed in response to local and national rural crime surveys and following feedback from residents as part of a consultation led by the county’s police and crime commissioner, David Keane.

David said: “Cheshire’s new rural and wildlife policing strategy sets out a real commitment to supporting rural communities.

“Earlier this year I was able to roll out my initiative of providing a PCSO for every policing community in Cheshire, which saw all 26 rural communities receive their own dedicated PCSO and police community base.

“This initiative has already increased the visibility of police in rural areas, and this strategy will further increase that visibility with officers and PCSOs attending all major rural events and spending more time in rural communities to tackle road safety issues.”

Chief Inspector Simon Meegan said: “With more than 65 per cent of Cheshire classed as ‘rural’, we are committed to putting the right resources in place to tackle rural crime head on.

“This strategy sets out a commitment to putting preventative measures in place to make our rural areas safer.

“It is vitally important we continue to strength our relationships with our partners and communities to ensure those living and working in the countryside receive the best possible service.”