Penrith and the Border MP, Dr Neil Hudson has highlighted rural crime and antisocial behaviour at a roundtable with the Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon James Cleverly MP.

At a policy roundtable with the Home Secretary, Dr Hudson MP was keen to impress upon the Home Secretary the blight of rural crime including fly-tipping, hare coursing, animal and vehicle crime.

Speaking afterwards, Dr Neil Hudson MP said: “From farm equipment thefts and property damage to hare coursing, poaching and fly tipping – too long criminals have preyed upon isolated homes, businesses and sites in the countryside.

“But thanks to new policing powers and bespoke laws, we Conservatives are cracking down on rural crime. I thank the Home Secretary for giving me the opportunity to raise rural issues at the highest levels of Government and look forward to seeing results.”

Last year the Conservative Government implemented a National Rural Crime Unit supporting forces up and down the country to better tackle rural criminality.

This was backed up by £200,000 funding and new laws to empower officers.

These include the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act which helps police and courts to clamp down on criminals while also creating two new criminal offences directly targeting hare coursers.

As well as, the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 which deters the thefts of quadbikes and ATVs by requiring immobilisers and forensic markings to be fitted.