The police and crime commissioner, Donna Jones, has reiterated her promise to clamp down on organised crime gangs in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.

Her pledge aligns with National Rural Crime Action Week, which runs from October 21 to 25.

The campaign underscores the necessity for local authorities, the police, and rural communities to work together against rural crime.

Ms Jones said: "There is an immediate and growing threat from organised crime gangs.

"These groups are not opportunistic thieves.

"They perform meticulous supply and demand operations, stealing items to order such as quad bikes or plant machinery and shipping them overseas.

"These criminals are serious, organised, and international."

(Image: Donna Jones PCC) The National Farmers’ Union has revealed that rural crime cost the UK £52.8 million in 2023, an increase of 4.3 per cent from the previous year.

This figure includes a 137 per cent rise in GPS thefts.

The police and crime commissioner’s commitment to tackling rural crime includes a £1 million investment in boosting intelligence capability, area cars in rural areas, and named local bobbies for every rural community.

Ms Jones continued: "I’ve also invested in the most effective technology available to police forces across England and Wales with cutting-edge drones to track offenders, and mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras that the police can move around in rural areas.

"This means Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary can provide an agile and robust response covering thousands of square miles and can monitor cross-border activity to stay one step ahead of the gangs."

Her new plan will focus on further protecting rural communities with a commitment to increasing the number of police officers in rural areas.

Ms Jones added: "As commissioner, I am committed to supporting rural communities to feel safer, be safer, and be more connected to their police force."