Cambridgeshire police reputation 'not tarnished' after rural crime spree
It's almost two months since widespread criminality hit parts of the Fens
A rural crime officer in Cambridgeshire believes the reputation of the county's police force has not been "tarnished".
PC Brady Slack - from the force's rural crime action team (RCAT) - made the comment after police were pressured for how it reacted to widespread criminality in parts of the Fens earlier this year.
Hare coursing, criminal damage and dangerous driving was reported in Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington in January.
"I think our reputation hasn't been tarnished," Brady said.
"No matter how much the next person will argue RCAT should've been there, I think the community that was hit have a very good understanding and appreciation of the work we do away from that weekend."
At a public meeting held after the event, Cambridgeshire Police chief constable Nick Dean apologised for what happened.
Mr Dean also confirmed "additional resources would be deployed this weekend and in future weekends".
There are 10 members of RCAT, including a sergeant, police constables and a police community support officer.
Brady said RCAT cannot cover the county on a daily basis, but that officers tried to respond accordingly to what happened in January.
"Those that were affected on that day will understand we can't provide 24/7 coverage as a team," he said.
"We gave it a damn good try (to stop criminality) to prevent and disrupt (crimes taking place)."
"We can sometimes pre-empt jobs that are in the making or we expect to happen, but if there's no resourcing there, we're not going to facilitate it until such a time we have to react to it."
This week, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey raised the topic of illegal hare coursing to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
"Criminal gangs are terrorising rural communities across our country, from Cambridgeshire to Devon, from Oxfordshire to Wiltshire," said Sir Ed.
"Men in balaclavas are threatening and abusing farmers, as these criminals tear across their fields in 4x4s."
Sir Ed said farmers believe "it is only a matter of time before someone is killed" and asked Sir Keir if he would "back our calls for a comprehensive rural crime strategy, so that we not just stamp out hare coursing but keep our rural communities safe from all crime?"
In response, Sir Keir said this is "a matter of deep concern" and a rural crime strategy is being developed.