Rural Crime Petition - Please Sign

[BeingKate]

Hi All

In light of all the horror stories I have seen in particular over the last year, and most recently after the devastating arson attack at Elmwood Equestrian Centre, I don't want to sit back and just think how awful things are... Things need to CHANGE. So I have created this petition. please sign and share far and wide - lets try and get tougher penalties for those scum that commit rural crime which is so often overlooked. We need to protect our animals, our farmers/ land owners, and their land and buildings.

If you think I can make the text any better / more informative / think anything should be added, I am open to suggestions

Thanks everyone Xx

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/tougher-penalties-for-rural-crime

 

[GirlFriday]

Unfortunately, whilst I support the objective of reducing attacks which, deliberately or inadvertently, harm animals there is little or no evidence that harsher penalties reduce the incidents. There is however some evidence that harsher (e.g. custodial) sentencing can *increase* reoffending rates. Education/retraining type interventions typically have better success rates - and are cheaper longer term because of that.

So, I'm afraid that whilst i support what you're trying to achieve the measures you suggest would actually be counter-productive. And, however appealing the idea of 'retribution', I suspect you'd be utterly mortified to discover you'd increased rural crimes.

 

[BeingKate]

Hi Girl Friday

I do see where you're coming from - and thank you for wording it so nicely and constructively! - but i think this is where the UK has gone soft. No doubt all of these crimes will be blamed on broken homes, mental health, drugs, and lenient / non existent consequences in place for those involved. I do beleive totally in the education side of things but there are some who simply cannot and will not be educated.

If heaven forbid something similar happened to your yard, and the perpetrator was found, would you think a £250 (for example) fine and a few months in a prison would feel enough?

 

[GirlFriday]

And thanks BeingKate for also being gracious!

In my thankfully limited experience of crime against my family and property I can, more or less, say that I 'put my money where my mouth is' in that I was actually pleased that the people who smashed my (beloved, first and only) car windscreen recently were not caught on the faulty CCTV because I did not see what good would come, for society as a whole or my area in particular, of dragging those kids through a court process.

When someone who nearly killed me in a hit and run was caught (literally due to a number plate being pulled out of the wreckage I was in!) I didn't *feel* it was right that the driver wasn't immediately found so their (presumably - it was on a clear three lane motorway with good visibility so they had plenty of space and time to pass if driving in a fit state) drunk state could be taken into account in sentencing. Officers didn't visit the house until a day or two after (and it turned out car had been lent to a relative anyway, but they weren't to know that at the time) and I wasn't happy about that. I also decided not to look up what happened in sentencing (first court date was cancelled as police witness failed to attend and then the relative/driver changed their plea so I didn't have to go the second time). Because I knew that, whatever it was, wouldn't make up for the fact I could have been killed. But being angry about the sentence as well as the near-death wouldn't make me happier.

It is hard though. (But thanks for reminding me to get the windscreen repaired - £100 I don't have to spend on that but at least as I got the screen insurance this year it is only the excess for a change!)

 

[GTRJazz]

I think local counsels need to stop making people having to construct wooden stables first thing i look for when moving is a good 12 x 12 brick or block stable and I would not move into a barn type set up. Dusty, fire risk, other liveries using it as a social area.

 

[Hanno Verian]

And thanks BeingKate for also being gracious!

In my thankfully limited experience of crime against my family and property I can, more or less, say that I 'put my money where my mouth is' in that I was actually pleased that the people who smashed my (beloved, first and only) car windscreen recently were not caught on the faulty CCTV because I did not see what good would come, for society as a whole or my area in particular, of dragging those kids through a court process.

QUOTE]

Sorry but I disagree

Your mixing crimes here there is a significant difference between arson and attack on animals and vandalism/petty theft, both in the motivation and psychological make up of perpetrators. Arson/Animal attacks can often be a precursor activity to more serious crime, there is a proven link between animal mutilation and serial killing, not every animal mutilator will become Hannibal Lector, but most serial killers have incidents of animal mutilation in their earlier life, its training/escalation. In these cases sanction needs to be hand in hand with other forms of assessment and treatment.

With regard to the damage to your car had the perpetrators been caught and there been effective sanction (Consequences) for their actions then there would I believe be a deterrent effect, the problem is that people are caught, it places a burden on the legal system to process it and the consequences for the individual if a decision has been made to prosecute are derisory. There is then no effective consequence for an action and a belief that people can act with relative impunity.

Don't write me off as a Victorian dinosaur, I believe that we are in danger of creating an entirely disenfranchised sector of society with little or no fear of the law, who need help and to be given the opportunity to become part of society again, and sadly I see little evidence the time, will and effort being put into reintegrating these people.

 

[BeingKate]

And thanks BeingKate for also being gracious!

Don't write me off as a Victorian dinosaur, I believe that we are in danger of creating an entirely disenfranchised sector of society with little or no fear of the law, who need help and to be given the opportunity to become part of society again, and sadly I see little evidence the time, will and effort being put into reintegrating these people.

I have to say I agree - for me the crash is a whole different kettle of fish (but how terrifying and sorry you went through that! ) In my opinion people who commit such horrendous acts like arson, mutilation etc don't WANT to be educated and it would be a waste of time, money and energy trying. Which is why I believe this is so important. We really are turning into a nation of softies and turning a blind eye on horrific acts for fear of offending and upsetting people.

 

[Farmer Chalk]

Whilst it’s admirable regarding your petition unfortunately in the current climate the Government just don’t have the money to spend....

What does work is lobbying your local police service and arranging Partnerships with your local Horsewatch group, NFU Mutual office etc....

We were lucky enough to recently be invited to a recent Thames Valley Police event last Friday evening. Our daughter Freya has recently been appointed a Datatag ambassador ( through sponsorship for their Equine saddle systems ) and delivered a presentation on saddle theft and rural crime... but there were speakers from the Police, BHS and the local Horsewatch on a variety of subjects...moreover it brought the community together and made them aware of local issues....

I was super impressed and everyone left with a feel good factor that everyone was looking out for each other... and we all learnt a lot and had a jolly good time!

I would definitely recommend joining or even setting up your own local group!