6. What discussions has the Counsel General had with law officers in the UK Government about improving the accessibility of legal support to residents subjected to rural crime? OQ55548

The Welsh Government continues to make representations to the UK Government on the justice system in Wales, including the accessibility of legal support for residents in all parts of Wales and in all areas of law.

Thank you. Eighty-six per cent of those surveyed in north Wales, 92 per cent in Dyfed-Powys, and 97 per cent in Gwent think that crime is significant in their rural community. A study carried out by the Countryside Alliance found that nearly a quarter of crimes were not reported to the police, and 56 per cent of respondents who did report a crime were dissatisfied with the response. As the Countryside Alliance has commented,

'Good rural policing is about far more than numbers of police officers on the ground...we must form effective partnerships'.

Now, whilst I appreciate that the Welsh Government is involved in the Wales wildlife and rural crime group, this does not include key stakeholders such as local authorities and town and smaller community councils in our rural areas. Will you now liaise with the law officers in the UK Government, with the aim of founding a national rural crime taskforce for Wales, in order to involve all stakeholders and to help ensure that there is indeed a greater understanding of the needs of our rural communities?

I will agree with the Member that it is a concern if people are not reporting rural crimes to the police. Of course, both members of the public and stakeholders should feel able to do that, and should in fact do that, and we would encourage them, indeed, to do that. She mentioned in her question the role of the Wales wildlife, crime and rural affairs group. My understanding is that the work of that group has been very widely appreciated and commended as an exemplar, whether it's to do with the secondment of police officers to Natural Resources Wales or the establishment of rural crime units within our police services, right across Wales. I understand those are regarded in other parts of the UK and beyond as examples of very good practice. But I share with her her concern about crime in any part of Wales, and I'm pleased to see the partnership working that is happening between the Government here in Wales, Natural Resources Wales, the police, and other emergency services, to support rural communities in this concern.