The Countryside Alliance along with partner organisations has written to the Home Office Minister responsible for the Police and Crime Bill, reiterating serious concerns previously raised in an earlier letter to Dame Angela Eagle regarding the Bill’s implications for rural communities and policing priorities.

In the latest correspondence, the organisations urge Ministers to carefully consider the cumulative impact of the proposed legislation on rural policing capacity, community confidence, and the ability of police forces to address crime in the countryside effectively.

The letter follows an earlier submission to Dame Angela Eagle in which the Countryside Alliance highlighted a number of areas of concern within the Bill and called for greater clarity on how its provisions would be implemented in rural areas. The Alliance has argued consistently that legislation affecting policing must take account of the distinct challenges faced in rural and remote communities, where resources are already stretched and response times significantly longer than in urban areas.

In the new letter, the Alliance reinforces these points and seeks further engagement with Ministers as the Bill progresses through Parliament. It stresses that rural policing must not be an afterthought in national policy reform and that any changes to policing powers or priorities must be properly assessed for their impact outside of urban centres.

Sarah Lee, Director of Policy at the  Countryside Alliance said:

“We have already set out our concerns to Dame Angela Eagle and others in government. This latest letter to the Home Office Minister simply reinforces the need for rural policing implications to be properly understood and addressed as the Police and Crime Bill moves forward. Rural communities deserve the same level of protection and consideration as those in urban areas.”

Fly-tipping and waste crime are a growing blight on the countryside and the Countryside Alliance is urging those affected to share their experiences through our Rural Crime Campaign and interactive crime map. By reporting incidents in your area, you can help expose the true scale of the problem, highlight the impact on rural communities, and strengthen the case for tougher enforcement and lasting action.  

The Countryside Alliance continues to engage with policymakers across Westminster, urging a more balanced approach to policing reform that recognises the realities of life in the countryside.