Wiltshire police team launch initiative for rural areas

POLICE have launched a new website aimed at helping horse owners and equestrian enthusiasts to tackle equine and rural crime and help improve rural and equestrian security.
Wiltshire Horsewatch at www.wiltshirehorsewatch.co.uk is the equine version of Neighbourhood Watch.
The scheme’s aim is to help improve equine and property security by connecting horse owners and local people, and alerting them to any suspicious reported activity or crimes in progress by means of SMS text message or e-mail alerts.
Wiltshire Horsewatch also offers valuable crime prevention advice and a range of free services including tack marking and saddle stamping.
The Horsewatch scheme is part of a national approach to tackling equine related crime and it was first set up in this area in 2009 by Wiltshire Police’s dedicated Rural Crime Team (RCT).
Police Community Support Officer John Bordiss who works on the RCT said: “This scheme is about horse owners working in partnership with the police to help prevent and reduce equine, rural and agricultural crime. As part of the National Horsewatch Alliance, information of criminal or suspicious activity is recorded across the counties allowing a broad distribution of knowledge to be shared and acted upon.
“The theft of a horse or property is soul destroying. It’s not just the financial loss but ultimately the emotional distress caused. Wiltshire Horsewatch has seen some fantastic results over the past three years and it is superb to see so many new people signing up to the scheme and getting involved.”
Wiltshire Horsewatch is a non-profit making scheme and membership is free. It is open to individual horse owners, large professional competition and business yards, and all equestrian enthusiasts.
Members receive regular updates on county wide equine related thefts and suspicious incidents, and timely alerts via text message and e-mail about potential threats, plus advice on horse and yard security, and free tack marking sessions.
To sign up to the scheme, visit the website www.wiltshirehorsewatch.co.uk