Equestrians, farmers, and members of Nottinghamshire’s rural communities all turned up to support a new event designed to prevent and reduce equine-related and rural crime.
The force’s first Equestrian Transport Safety Event took place at Brackenhurst Equestrian Centre, Southwell, on Saturday (21 February), with the aim of improving road safety and building stronger relationships with the equestrian community.
The day kicked off with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) providing free weight checks on residents’ trailers and horseboxes, to ensure owners are aware of their legal towing capacity while promoting safety for drivers, animals and other road users.
Visitors also had the opportunity to chat to Nottinghamshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit and specially trained Horse Watch officers, where they were given road safety tips, as well as crime prevention advice when it came to the potential theft of specialised – and often expensive – equipment used by equestrians and farmers.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and their Specialist Operations unit was on hand to demonstrate their specialised large animal rescue equipment, specifically designed for incidents involving livestock, equines, and pets trapped in mud, water, or road traffic collisions.
Trailer and saddle marking kits were also available to purchase and be fitted courtesy of partner Datatag ID, designed to deter theft and assist police in identifying and recovering stolen property.
Juliet Webber, Nottinghamshire Police’s Rural and Wildlife Crime Partnerships Manager, said:
“This event is the first of its kind to hit Nottinghamshire, and we had a great turnout from our rural community.
“We know that our rural residents can often feel isolated, so community engagement is a key tool to help us strengthen these relationships, hear what issues they could be facing, and what we can be doing to support them.
“Making sure vehicles are safe ensures the welfare of the horses, prevents roadside breakdowns, and helps avoid traffic accidents.
“It is also key that our equestrian community is aware of the legalities around towing heavy objects, so that they aren’t transporting anything deemed to be overweight or they could face fines, penalty points on their licence, and even criminal charges.
“We also know that the theft of farming equipment can be devastating to victims, so any way we can implement tactics to deter that type of crime is a success.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to our partners who helped make this event possible, including Nottingham Trent University, DVSA, Datatag ID, Bransby Horses, Dodson and Horrell, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, Leah and Release, British Horse Society and Nomad Coffee.
“We look forward to hosting this event again in the summer, and I’d encourage all those interested to keep an eye out for more information.”
