Big Barn Meet Held for Dacorum’s Rural Community

Living Magazines Dacorum Rural Community Big Barn Meet

Police, partner agencies and residents came together in Dacorum on Tuesday 15 March to discuss the preventative work being done to protect the rural community.

The Big Barn Meet was held at Dunsley Farm in Tring, hosted by the Berkhamsted and Tring Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Dacorum Chief Inspector Jason Keane opened the meeting and was followed by an itinerary of speakers including the Safer Neighbourhood Team, the constabulary’s Rural Operational Support Team, the echo team, dedicated rural crime detectives and staff from the Force Communication Room. Partner agencies in attendance were the National Farmers Union and the Animal Welfare Team at Dacorum Borough Council.

Among the issues raised and discussed were fly-tipping, livestock worrying, irresponsible dog owners, hare coursing and theft of farming equipment.

PC Lazarus Clark, who organised the event, said: ‘Barn meets are a great way to engage directly with our rural communities. This is the first one we’ve been able to hold for a couple of years due to the pandemic and I’d like to thank all those who attended, those who gave talks and presentations, and Dunsley Farm for providing a great venue for our meet.

‘As a result, I’m now in direct contact with the NFU representative for this area, which will help bridge the gap between the farming community and the local SNT. I have also arranged to carry out joint visits to all the farms in our area in partnership with the NFU over the coming months.

‘Dacorum is an area with a large percentage of countryside, and we’re committed to building and maintaining strong relationships with those living in rural communities. If you have any issues, concerns or ideas you’d like to discuss with us then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.’

You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in the Force Communications Room viaonline web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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