POACHERS and thieves who steal scrap metal and farm machinery will be targeted by police in a massive crackdown on crime in Lancashire’s rural areas.

Next week officers will be stepping up patrols, visiting farms and rural businesses to offer crime prevention advice, hosting community meetings and attending auction marts.

In addition, specialist wildlife officers will be joining staff from the Environment Agency and United Utilities, carrying out anti-poaching patrols and executing warrants.

And multi-agency roadside checks will be taking place to identify travelling criminals and to deter the theft of livestock and plant equipment.

The activity will mark the first week of Operation Firecrest, which launches on Monday.

Superintendent Richard Spedding, of Lancashire Police, said the operation was in response to an increase in rural crime, both nationally and locally, thought to be brought on by the downturn in the economy.

He said: “The most common type of offences in our rural communities include fuel and scrap metal theft as well as theft of agricultural machinery and offences like poaching and hare coursing.

"These are the type of activities we hope to target as part of Operation Firecrest.

“Our intention is to offer advice and reassurance to our rural communities to help prevent crime, to work with local communities to detect crime and of course, to target offenders and send a clear message to them that their behaviour is not acceptable and will most likely result in arrest.”

Farmers, landowners and gamekeepers will also be encouraged to work with police to help identify, disrupt and deter criminals who operate in the countryside.

The campaign is being welcomed by Gisburn farmer Ally Weare, whose family has had livestock for more than 50 years.

He said: “Fortunately we’ve not experienced any significant losses but we have had several sheep worried by poachers’ dogs and the farm and vehicles have suffered criminal damage.

“I welcome this new campaign and in particular the extra high visibility police presence which I think is essential to reassure farmers and to deter thieves.”