A nationwide search is launched today to find outstanding local crime fighters protecting the UK’s countryside communities – with winners scooping up to £1,000 each to help fund anti-crime initiatives.
The Country Crime Fighters Awards 2012, established by the UK’s leading rural insurer NFU Mutual, will identify and reward best crime prevention practice among the 12.2 million people living in rural areas of the UK today.1
Research conducted on behalf of NFU Mutual in 2011 showed that almost one in four rural dwellers (23%) said they were involved in a crime prevention initiative.2 The Mutual’s award scheme will recognise such outstanding contributions to crime prevention and community safety across four categories:
· Individual Crime Fighter /Innovation Award
· Community Scheme Award
· Local Bobby Award
· NFU Mutual Agent Award
There are cash prizes up for grabs to help fund anti-crime initiatives – £500 for the Individual category and £1,000 for the other categories.
The winners will be selected by an expert panel featuring TV personality Adam Henson, NFU Mutual Chairman Richard Percy and Stuart Hyde, Chief Constable of Cumbria the new Association of Chief Police Officers’ (ACPO) national lead for Wildlife and Rural Crime – who will be looking for evidence of resourceful, effective initiatives.
Richard Percy, Chairman of NFU Mutual, said: "Many countryside communities face an on-going fight against crime and regularly fight back with innovative solutions. We’re launching the Countryside Crime Fighters Awards to acknowledge the members of rural communities whose inventive crime prevention schemes often go unrecognised by the wider world.
"A united front against crime will help to safeguard rural communities from being targeted and bring down overall levels in the long run."
Commenting on the awards, television’s Adam Henson, said: "I understand the devastating impact crime can have on those living and working in the countryside. That’s why I’m supporting NFU Mutual in its quest to recognise and reward those committed to protecting their local neighbourhood and urge communities to throw their full weight behind the awards."
Stuart Hyde, Chief Constable of Cumbria the ACPO national lead for Wildlife and Rural Crime, said: "The awards are an excellent way to recognise the hard work that goes on in our rural communities to tackle crime in all its forms. I welcome the opportunity to see first hand the innovative and creative ways in which individuals and groups tackle rural crime and look forward to being involved."
