CONCERNS over increasing rural crime across the Tiverton and Minehead constituency have been put to Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones by local MP Rachel Gilmour.

Mrs Gilmour met the Minister in the Home Office and outlined how constituents had seen a surge in robberies and anti-social behaviour.

She sought assurances that the Government had a ‘comprehensive and strategic approach’ to tackling crime in the constituency, which takes in West Somerset, rural parishes bordering Wellington, and parts of the Culm Valley and Blackdown Hills.

Mrs Gilmour highlighted NFU Mutual statistics showing a 168.7 per cent increase in rural thefts across Somerset between 2023-2024, with the stolen items valued at £2.1 million.

Ms Jones described rural crime prevention as a ‘Home Office priority’ and told Mrs Gilmour the issue was ‘high on the agenda’.

The Minister confirmed the Home Office was focussing on an ‘intelligence-led’ approach to finding those culpable for crimes in rural areas and spoke about future opportunities for local authorities and representatives to hold police chiefs to account when police and crime commissioners were abolished in 2028.

Mrs Gilmour said: “In my meeting with the Minister, I made it clear that more must be done to support communities in Tiverton and Minehead and across the UK.

“My office has been dealing with an increasing amount of casework relating to rural crime, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to explain to the Minister why we need to see a new strategy from central Government as soon as possible.

“I was assured that the Government has a plan to tackle crime in rural areas.

“However, now it is time to see action from this Government as rural communities across Tiverton and Minehead both need and deserve more support.

“I will continue to hold the Government to account to deliver improvements for our constituency.”