JUST over seven years ago North Wales Police set up the UK's first dedicated rural crime team.

The Leader spoke with its manager, Rob Taylor, to find out how the team has changed the way police tackle rural crime in our region and further afield.

Mr Taylor said: "We set up in 2013 and had always had a good relationship with the Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales.

"The Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales was then Winston Roddick and he made a promise to form a dedicated rural crime team.

"As a Sergeant at the time I had the task of getting the team together with four constables and to tackle, in the main, farm and wildlife crime.

"We now have 11 constables and our remit has expanded into cockling, habitat destruction, poaching, illegal waste tipping and dog fighting."

Speaking of the team's success, he explained: "The proof is in the pudding - many cases have been before the court, which might not previously have happened.

"When I started, we were looking at about 300 wildlife offences a year - now we have about 40.

"That is a substantial drop and I think, in the main, that is because there is a dedicated team there to do that role.

"A lot of the bridges between us and the farming community had crumbled because police just didn't have the specialist knowledge for this area of policing."

Mr Taylor said over the last seven years, the team has become very good at dealing with these specialist rural offences.

"They understand them," he said. "And the understand the impact of them.

"For example the massive impact wildlife offences can have for rare species sich as ospreys and otters.

"You also get to realise and understand the needs of the farming community - which includes a team with knowledge and empathy regarding the offences and impacts they can have.

"A quad bike is an important part of modern farming for rounding up sheep and getting to areas of farmland.

"Having one stolen, for example, can be devastating.

"People in the farming community are tax payers like everyone else and they deserve policing as other areas get."

North Wales "took the lead" by forming this dedicated team, and other forces "took notice."

Mr Taylor recalled: "In a short space of time North Yorkshire came on board and we guided them in terms of what is needed.

"They then started a very proactive team there.

"There are now more than 25 dedicated teams in UK forces looking specifically at rural crime.

"In Wales, three of the forces now have one - there's us, Gwent and Dyfed Powys and we helped to train them."

The North Wales Police rural crime team has also been working to update the law on livestock attacks, which the Leader reported on recently.

Mr Taylor said: "This is a horrendous problem and a barbaric offence that has gone under the radar in the UK, but MPs are listening.

"The current act is antiquated - it's 67 years old.

"The new act we're trying to get through will add things and give better powers to help police deal with this.

"We have had a lot of hurdles to get over, but we hope that in 2021 we will see the law amended."

The Leader also reported recently how rural officers have been trained to help and signpost members of the region's farming community following concerns over mental health.

Mr Taylor said: "The farming community has one of the highest rates of suicide in the UK.

"Mental health is becoming a huge concern as Brexit had a huge impact with uncertainty and anxiety over a long time.

"Suddenly covid comes along and isolation - loneliness has become a big issue for our farmers and often we're the first people to come across this by visiting them."

Farmers Union of Wales president Glyn Roberts said: “Every year rural crime costs millions of pounds and causes untold anxiety to farmers and rural businesses.

"North Wales Police have been leading the way in making sure that rural crime is less attractive for those up to no good.

"Other police forces across Wales should take note of their approach in supporting the rural community and we can only commend them for their efforts and determination to make North Wales a safer place for us all.”