MORE than 60 people took part in rural crime talks at Benacre earlier this month.

The seminar, aimed at cutting crime, involved members of the rural business community and Suffolk Constabulary and took place the Benacre Estate Education Centre, near Beccles.

It was organised by The Country Land & Business Association’s (CLA) Suffolk Branch Vice Chairman, Edward Vere Nicoll, and aimed to provide an insight into the day-to-day running of an operational estate, where the Suffolk Constabulary are provided with a better understanding of the implications, consequences and the future impact of rural issues and crimes that affect landowners.

The meeting highlighted the huge cost implications of rural crime.

Delegates heard that these “far outweighed” similar crimes within towns, which underlined the importance of police involvement in countryside areas.

Those present included Safer Neighbourhood Officers from Suffolk Constabulary, members of the CLA, Natural England, National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Mutual, The Deer Initiative, farmers, landowners and business people.

Attendees listened to presentations on the benefits of farm machinery marking and laws involving deer and shooting.

There were also seminars on wildlife crime and their consequences as well as a presentation by Suffolk Police’s Superintendent Phil Aves on crime in Suffolk’s countryside.

The CLA’s Edward Vere Nicoll said: “The aim of the day was to spread the word within the police and rural business industry about the best ways to take control of your property.

“We are very grateful to all who attended.

“This is the start of a long working relationship between the CLA and Suffolk Police to extend good practice throughout the business community in order to reduce rural crime.

“The feedback from the day has been excellent and attendees have gone away with the right tools to improve security in and around their business.”