New event aimed at tackling equine safety and rural crime in Nottinghamshire hailed a success
Equestrians, farmers, and members of Nottinghamshire’s rural communities all turned up to support a new event designed to prevent and reduce equine-related and rural crime.
The force’s first Equestrian Transport Safety Event took place on Saturday (21 February), with the aim to improve road safety and build stronger relationships with the equestrian community.
Juliet Webber, Nottinghamshire Police’s Rural and Wildlife Crime Partnerships Manager, said: “This event is the first of its kind to hit Nottinghamshire, and we had a great turnout from our rural community.
“We know that our rural residents can often feel isolated, so community engagement is a key tool to help us strengthen these relationships, hear what issues they could be facing, and what we can be doing to support them.
“Making sure vehicles are safe ensures the welfare of the horses, prevents roadside breakdowns, and helps avoid traffic accidents.
“It is also key that our equestrian community are aware of the legalities around towing heavy objects, so that they aren’t transporting anything deemed to be overweight, or they could face fines, penalty points on their licence, and even criminal charges.
“We also know that the theft of farming equipment can be devastating to victims, so any way we can implement tactics to deter that type of crime is a success.”
The event at Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre, Southwell, kicked off with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) providing free weight checks on residents’ trailers and horseboxes, to ensure owners are aware of their legal towing capacity while promoting safety for drivers, animals and other road users.
Visitors also had the opportunity to chat to Nottinghamshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit and specially-trained Horse Watch officers, where they were given road safety tips, as well as crime prevention advice when it came to the potential theft of specialised – and often expensive - equipment used by equestrians and farmers.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and their Specialist Operations unit were on hand to demonstrate their specialized large animal rescue equipment, specifically designed for incidents involving livestock, equines, and pets trapped in mud, water, or road traffic collisions.
Trailer and saddle marking kits were also available to purchase and then be fitted courtesy of partner Datatag ID, designed to deter theft and assist police in identifying and recovering stolen property.