The plod say they're strapped for cash...
They can afford all-terrain Police tractors and ATVs as well to stop Norfolk-Suffolk border smugglers / rural crime. All very Dukes of Hazard esp with the US airbases dotted around.
A new National Rural Crime Network, endorsed by eighteen (18) of the UK's Police and Crime Commissioners has been set-up to help tackle rural crime more effectively in England and Wales.
www.countryside-alliance.org
Suffolk Constabulary has a small but dedicated team determined to help rural communities tackle wildlife and rural crimes.
Rural crime is defined as any crime of an agricultural, livestock, wildlife or heritage nature.
The team has an Inspector, a Sergeant, two Police Constables and three Special Constables. In addition there are seven police officers on the force who have also been trained to tackle wildlife crime. They use tractors, 4x4 vehicles, which are marked up in rural crime livery, as well as a small all-terrain vehicle (ATV). If needed they have access to drones (small unmanned surveillance aircrafts), Apache attack helicopter, satellite (hi-res optical and radar) surveillance to help with intelligence gathering and operational policing.
The team’s current priorities include rural thefts (machinery / plant / diesel and technology such as GPS equip- ment), hare coursing, poaching, raptor persecution, damage to habitat, policing of hunts and heritage crime, including theft of lead from churches. The team also deals with badger baiting, stag hunting with dogs and other unlawful activities which can cause damage to fields, property and vehicles. The team are also trained in CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) offences, such as illegal ivory, Rhino horn etc, as well as live specimens of illegal animals. It is also noted that there is a clear link between the aforementioned crimes and serious organised crime groups who are involved with other criminal activity such as turnip and sugar beet smuggling & drugs, trafficking, and slavery.