Warwickshire Police launch first UK Rural Crime Advice app

Technology pioneered by Warwickshire Police offers easy access to guidance, local updates and reporting crime

Warwickshire Police launched a new unique Rural Crime Advice app last week. The app, believed to be the first of its kind developed by a police force, helps support officers and staff in engaging with and dealing with rural crime incidents.

Inspector Allison Wiggin said “We serve a largely rural community in Warwickshire and when an incident occurs officers and staff can be deployed to remote locations. The secure app helps and supports them in a number of ways to improve their response to incidents and enquiries on rural and wildlife crime.”

The app provides precise location mapping, latest rural updates, briefings for officers and rural news to update them as soon as they come on duty. It also provides easy access to advice and guidance on a wide range of information relating to livestock, wildlife crime, fishing, agricultural vehicles and plant, firearms, dangerous dogs, poisons and heritage crime.

As well as contact details for key organisations, partners and internal force departments, the app also has a report function for sending information directly to the Rural Crime Team. A direct link to Warwickshire Rural Watch provides the opportunity for people to sign up for Rural Alerts and be provided with relevant crime prevention advice.

PCC Philip Seccombe said: “By equipping our officers and staff with quick and easy access to all the information they may need when dealing with a rural crime incident via the app, they can check the details of a suspected incident faster. This leads to greater protection for our rural communities, and it’s hoped it’ll also act as a deterrent to would-be thieves in our rural communities.”

Funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, the app was produced by Rural Crime Officer Carol Cotterill following the successful launch of the Rural Crime Patrol Book. She said: “We’re grateful to the Police and Crime Commissioner and to partners that have assisted us, including Datatag, Trading Standards, Historic England, and the Safer Roads Partnership. We’d also like to express thanks to various departments within Warwickshire Police, such as firearms and the dogs section.”