REMOTE and off-road areas across Dyfed-Powys are now accessible to rural crime officers thanks to a fleet of new 4x4 vehicles.
The police force’s four rural crime teams have each been allocated a Ford Ranger, which will allow them to carry out their specialist work more efficiently. The vehicles are better suited to farm tracks and lanes than traditional police cars, and have 4x4 capability, which means the teams can patrol vulnerable sites that were previously only accessible on foot.
Supt Robyn Mason, Dyfed-Powys Police lead for rural crime, said: “Last year we established the four rural crime teams to focus on rural issues. These vehicles are another investment in the teams to ensure they have the specialist equipment they require.
“Policing such a large and diverse area presents unique challenges, and there are places our teams have been unable to access by car until now. We are optimistic that these new vehicles will allow our officers and staff to provide a more effecting policing service to remote areas.”
Over the past year, the rural crime teams have dealt with 92 reports of quad bike thefts. Often, they find that stolen quads are hidden in remote forestry while criminals establish if they are fitted with tracking devices. They will then abandon them, or move them out of the area.
Not only will the new police vehicles allow police to go off-road in search of stolen quads, but they are kitted with trackers, which will help to track their location in live-time. The vehicles will also be used to patrol areas where illegal raves are suspected to be planned.