Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, is holding meetings across Holderness this Friday in order to address local residents’ concerns about rural crime and traffic issues.
The MP is beginning his series of visits in Lelley, northeast of Preston, where he is meeting Hollie Harris of Holderness Farm Watch and Libby Bateman from the Country Land & Business Association (CLA) to talk all things concerning rural crime with Humberside Police’s new Rural Task Force.
Humberside Police Rural Task Force was established in February this year as a dedicated unit focusing on tackling rural, wildlife and heritage crimes. Based at Driffield Police Station, it will cover crimes across the East Riding. Rural crimes include trespass, equipment theft, poaching and hare coursing.
As well as proactively disrupting criminal networks and deploying drone technology to increase arrests, the team will work to improve charging and prosecution rates in order to better deter would-be offenders.
Graham, who has worked with both the CLA and Holderness Farm Watch on a long-running campaign against hare coursing, said:
“This new team is sending out a clear message that rural crime will not be tolerated. I’m looking forward to hearing how the Task Force is working closely with the CLA and Holderness Farm Watch to share intelligence and bring down criminals.”
The Holderness MP has called for legislation on hare coursing, largely contained within the Game Act that was written in 1831, to be updated so that it’s easier to prosecute those caught in the act and to allow police forces to recoup kennelling costs for the dogs used in the illegal sport.
Following this, the MP will travel 2 miles southwest to Preston town centre to meet with the Preston Traffic Group (PTG).
The PTG has been pressing for several years for East Riding Council (ERYC) to take measures to improve the traffic situation through the centre of Preston, following the sharp growth in vehicles over the past few years.
Graham will meet the PTG along with South West Holderness Councillors John Dennis, Sue Steel and David Winter, before chairing a virtual meeting with ERYC officials.
Graham said, “It’s horrendous trying to get through the middle of Preston at times, and I applaud the local councillors and Preston Traffic Group for the work they’re doing to come up with solutions to the issue.
“We’ll be meeting at the traffic lights in town so I can see the issues for myself, and then I’ll be chairing a meeting between the community leaders and Directors at East Riding Council to see exactly what can be done.”
