Cash boost for Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s campaign against rural crime

Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s campaign against rural crime has received a boost thanks to a £47,000 cash injection.

The money will fund four new in-car automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems for the force’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT).

It was awarded by the National Highways Social Value Fund, which supports the road agency’s commitment to delivering lasting social value as part of its major infrastructure projects.

Two of the four new ANPR systems are already live and have helped officers to arrest a wanted person, locate a cloned van, and identify a missing person’s vehicle.

The ANPR technology allows officers to quickly identify vehicles linked to criminal activity in rural areas, enabling prevention of rural crime and the pursuit of criminals.

Sergeant Tom Nuttall, who leads the RCAT and submitted the funding application, said: “Farms and rural businesses are often in isolated locations, and of course, criminals need vehicles to travel.

“These new ANPR systems will make a real difference in allowing us to identify vehicles of interest, pursue criminals, and hopefully prevent future crime.

“Thank you to National Highways for providing the funding. Within the first week, one of the new ANPR systems has allowed us to arrest a wanted person, locate a cloned van, and identify a missing person’s vehicle.”

Lee Galloway, National Highways project director, said: “We’re proud to support the work of Cambridgeshire police through our Social Value Fund.

“Tackling rural crime is an important part of supporting the communities our scheme passes through, and it’s great to see this funding already making a real difference.

“Our work isn’t just about building roads and improving junctions - it’s also about leaving a positive and lasting legacy for the people who live and work in the area.”

Find out more about the National Highways Social Value Fund on the National Highways website.