WEST Somerset MP Rachel Gilmour (Lib Dem, Tiverton & Minehead) has raised concerns over crime in rural areas with a Government Minister.

At a meeting on Tuesday (January 13), Mrs Gilmour met Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones (Labour, Croydon West) to discuss the problem, which she said has hit her constituency hard.

In a meeting at the Home Office, the Somerset MP outlined how constituents had seen a surge in robberies and antisocial behaviour in rural areas, as well as asking for assurances that the Government had a “comprehensive and strategic approach” to tackling rural crime.

Recent statistics from NFU Mutual showed between 2023 and 2024, there was a 168.7% increase in rural thefts across Somerset. In the same period, there was a 40.5% increase in Devon.

The Minister described rural crime prevention as a “Home Office priority” and told Tiverton and Minehead’s MP that the issue was “high on the agenda”.

READ MORE: Crime news from your Somerset Leveller

She also confirmed the Home Office was focussing on an “intelligence-led” approach to finding those culpable of committing crimes in rural areas and spoke about the future opportunities for local authorities and representatives to hold police chiefs to account following the abolishment of police and crime commissioners in 2028.

After the meeting, Mrs Gilmour said: “In my meeting with the minister this week, I made it clear that more must be done to support communities in Tiverton and Minehead and across the UK.

“My office has been dealing with an increasing amount of casework relating to rural crime, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to explain to the minister why we need to see a new strategy from central government as soon as possible.

“I was assured that the Government has a plan to tackle crime in rural areas.

“However, now is time to see action from this government as rural communities across Tiverton and Minehead both need and deserve more support.

“I will continue to hold the Government to account to deliver improvements for our constituency.”

READ MORE: West Somerset news from your Leveller