Written question WQ88431
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What efforts have been made by the Welsh Government to tackle rural crime in Wales in 2023?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
I was pleased to launch the first Wales' Wildlife and Rural Crime Strategy (gov.wales) (2023-25) in April of this year which was devised in collaboration with Wales’ four police areas.
This followed the appointment of the Welsh Government funded role of a Wales Wildlife & Rural Crime Co-ordinator who provides support, knowledge and expertise for each of the rural crime teams, as well as facilitate best practice. A training programme has been put in place with all officers in Wales being offered Welsh Government funded, on-farm training at Coleg Sir Gar. The Co-ordinator role is the first of its kind in the UK and benefits are already being seen across Wales’ rural areas.
The strategy sets out our objectives and how the Co-ordinator is working with the police and key stakeholders through six priority groups.
Wales is leading the way in terms of tackling rural crime with our Coordinator being asked to advise how our approach can be replicated across the UK.