Rural engagement officers seize and recover 107 vehicles

Our Rural Engagement Team have been busy helping to keep our rural roads safe by seizing uninsured vehicles and recovering stolen vehicles.

Between January and September this year, they seized 107 vehicles.

The team regularly patrol our rural road network and carry out road safety speed checks while they are doing so. The majority of vehicles seized in the past nine months – 77 – have been cars and vans found to be uninsured.

“The Rural Engagement Team is responsible for maintaining rural road safety across the force and for investigating the theft of machinery and vehicles from rural businesses and residents.
“These latest figures show how our officers are out every day helping to improve road safety in Essex, by keeping speeds down and taking uninsured vehicles off our roads, and seeking to recover stolen property.
“Caravans, agricultural vehicles and plant is extremely costly to replace at the best of times. It’s always nice to be able to return things to their rightful owners and bring those responsible for stealing them to justice.”
Sergeant Ben Felton, of our Rural Engagement Team

• Find out more about rural crime, crime prevention advice and how to protect heavy machinery, visit our Rural Crime pages
  
  
• For more advice on steps you can take to protect your vehicle, visit our vehicle crime prevention page
  
  
• You may also be interested in the work of our Stolen Vehicle Intelligence Unit

 

Our Rural Engagement Team

Our Rural Engagement Team was set up specifically to engage with our rural communities.

Officers investigate and help to prevent crimes which matter to you, such as animal cruelty, hare coursing, agricultural theft and fly-tipping.

And they also liaise with partner agencies to take enforcement action against those who breach legislation and to tackle specific rural issues through proactive operations.

Anyone who experiences or who has information about crime or anti-social behaviour, should ring 999 if it’s an emergency or a crime in progress.

Otherwise you can report it online, where you can also provide information directly to an online Live Chat operator between 10am and 9pm. Alternatively, you can ring 101.

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, online or by calling 0800 555 111.

 

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