Rural text messaging scheme to tackle crooks

4:43pm Thursday 7th February 2008

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RURAL residents have become the first in the country to take part in a pioneering text messaging scheme to track criminals.

The new operation in the Ribble Valley will use internet and mobile phone technology to provide information about suspicious incidents.

Farmers, gamekeepers and rural businesses are being asked to sign-up to the initiative - Target Rural and Community Crime Areas (TRACCA).

Members will receive an instant text message alerting them to a crime or incident that has happened. They will be asked to become the police's "eyes and ears" and pass information via a free text message to officers.

Police say it will be an "on-the-spot" way to prevent and detect crime in isolated areas where it is hard to keep in touch with residents through traditional methods.

PC Nick Mattock said: "By telling people what is going on, others can keep their eyes and ears open and pass information back to us quickly enough for us to do something about it.

PC Mattock, a member of Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue, thought of the idea as a similar scheme is used to alert volunteers to incidents.

He added: "I believe is the first of its kind in the country."

The set-up and running costs for the first year have been funded by sponsorship from Longridge Insurance Brokers, Country & Commercial Insurance Brokers (CCIB Ltd) and Rural Insurance who are based in Harrogate.

The scheme will initially be piloted in Longridge, Chipping and Ribchester for 12 months, with around 50 members.

Debbie Treacy and her husband John, partners in CCIB Ltd, were very keen to be involved in the initiative.

John, a retired police officer from the Ribble Valley, said: "As a previous serving officer I know only too well that the local community are the police's eyes and ears.

"Time can be such an important factor in preventing and detecting serious and organised crime, travelling crime and petty theft, fraud or deception, particularly in isolated and small community areas.

"Criminals know that rural communities can be vulnerable at times due to their geographic location and they do often target these areas for that specific reason."

Anyone wanting to be a member of the scheme should write to TRACCA c/o Longridge Police Station, Derby Road, Longridge, PR3 3EE; e-mail TRACCA@lancashire.pnn.police.uk or call into Longridge Police Station.

Applicants who are interested should include their full name, date of birth, mobile phone number and network and their postal address.