Police chiefs are to officially launch their first strategies aimed at addressing the challenges around rural communities and wildlife crime.

The strategies – devised by the National Police Chiefs Council – were unanimously supported by all chief constables at a meeting in April.

They will be officially launched at a special rural affairs summit on Wednesday (25 July).

The strategies aim to provides a platform to build and develop a nationally coordinated response to tackling crimes that impact rural communities and endanger wildlife.

Lisa Winard, of North Yorkshire Police said the strategies had been created following a series of special engagement events and detailed feedback from police officers.

Their views and expertise had been essential in understanding what was important to local communities and what needed to improve in terms of policing, she suggested.

“Now work continues to make the strategies a reality, it is important that this great partnership approach continues in the future to ensure its success.”

Held at Harrogate, the National Police Chiefs Council Rural Affairs Summit will hear from police and partner organisations about key issues relating to rural crime.

The event will see the launch of both the Rural Affairs Strategy 2018-2021 and the Wildlife Crime Policing Strategy 2018-2021.

The summit will discuss how best to tackle rural crime – as well as giving police the opportunity to engage with colleagues from the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU).