7
Sep
2015
By Calvin at 09:08 GMT, 10 years ago
There was a story in The Telegraph on 2nd September about a new volunteering initiative in Sussex. Described by the author, David Barrett, as ‘controversial’ the project involves 18 volunteer riders who will report what they see to the police using their mobile phones.
The Sussex Equine Rangers will patrol rural areas, but will not be given any extra powers of arrest.
Sergeant Isobel Lee, who is in charge of the initiative, was quoted as saying that moving at low speed and being about 10ft high, they will be able to see over hedges, down footpaths, into wooded areas, into farmyards and commercial premises, as well as gardens and garages. She also said that as well as providing a visible presence and assisting with crime prevention the Rangers will also gather local information to increase the force's rural intelligence picture.
It’s all been made possible through a grant of just £3,247 from the Police and Crime Commissioner.
I am not entirely sure why the author has described this scheme as ‘controversial’ since it is simply one more excellent example of how the public can do their bit to help the police. These people obviously enjoy their riding and would be out on their horses anyway. Now, after some training, they will continue to enjoy exercising their horses, but will have something extra to do which will greatly benefit their local communities. I take my hat off to them!
For several years now we have had Street Watch volunteers, dog walking volunteers and there are even schemes where cab drivers have teamed up with police to call in suspicious behaviour. This just happens to be one more version of the same – good people doing good!
I think sometimes people forget that the police service is a civilian service that wear uniforms and patrol the streets on our behalf. It just so happens that to be more effective they have been given extra powers of arrest, are organised, trained and paid. This has never meant that the rest of us do not have a responsibility to do what we can to prevent crime or bring offenders to justice. It’s always been like that in the UK and long may it continue.
Source: The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11839820/Members-of-the-public-will-carry-out-horseback-patrols-for-Sussex-police.html
Sussex Police: http://www.sussex.police.uk/whats-happening/latest/news-stories/2015/08/25/sussex-equine-rangers-scheme-to-be-launched
