November’s well-attended indoor talk was an interesting and meaningful insight into how Derbyshire Constabulary’s Matlock-based Rural Crime team go about their business, the areas they cover, from thefts, illegal hunting and countryside activities to trespass and criminal damage plus a range of other offences – including of course, crimes against wildlife.
The talk from PC Karl Webster particularly reached out to those with an intrinsic interest in wildlife, describing how we can all be extra-vigilant when we’re out and about, and inform Karl or members of the team of anything concerning them: “If it doesn’t look right,” stressed Karl, “the chances are it isn’t right.”
His advice: if something’s happening, don’t dally – call 999 (another number, 101, can be used for less urgent alerts or more general communication). Karl’s own phone (always on when he’s at work) is 07712 424569 and his e-mail is karl.webster@derbyshire.police.uk. Please contact the team with any concerns, he urges (their general e-mail is drct@derbyshire.police.uk).
The team also has an informative Facebook page (@ruralcrimeteam), which contains useful examples and updates, and a Twitter presence.