March 16, 2021 - 1710 views
The Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has urged the Welsh Government to support her proposals for the establishment of a National Rural Crime Taskforce for Wales, so as to provide a platform “from which key correspondence can be sent from Wales to the UK Government.”
Commenting, Mrs. Finch-Saunders said: “Data from NFU Mutual shows that thefts are continuing to rise year-on-year – up from £1.8 million in 2015 to £2.6 million in 2018.
"With the trend line pointing in the wrong direction, it shows that the actions of opportunistic criminals and organised gangs are having a real world and deep impact on the lives of our rural communities.
“In response to my letter on these proposals, the Minister explained that she is in correspondence with Lord Goldsmith, the North Wales Rural Crime Team, and Defra colleagues. I was most concerned to find no suggestion that such a scheme would have the backing of Welsh Government, however.
“This is most disappointing as the National Rural Crime Taskforce for Wales would broaden the stakeholder base, giving these communities a vital voice on how to confront this crime epidemic. It would also provide a platform from which key correspondence can be sent from Wales to the UK Government.
“Given his law officer responsibilities, I have today raised this concern with the Counsel General to ask that his colleagues support this proposal in their cross-government conversations. Cardiff Bay must take action to fully realise the concerns of our rural communities.”
