THE region's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has reiterated her promise to clamp down on organised crime gangs on the Isle of Wight and Hampshire.

The pledge from PCC Donna Jones comes during National Rural Crime Action Week, which is running this week until tomorrow (Friday, October 25).

The campaign aims to highlight the importance of local authorities, the police and rural communities working together to combat rural crime.

PCC Jones said: "There is an immediate and growing threat from organised crime gangs.

"These groups are not opportunistic thieves. They perform meticulous supply and demand operations — stealing items to order, such as quad bikes or plant machinery and shipping them overseas.

"These criminals are serious, organised and international."

Theft, black market gambling, hare coursing, poaching and fly-tipping are all affecting farmers and landowners.

The National Farmers’ Union estimates that rural crime cost the UK £52.8 million last year, a 4.3 per cent increase on the 2022 figure.

The commissioner has invested £1 million to boost intelligence capability, area cars and named 'local Bobbies' in rural areas.

"I’ve also invested in the most effective technology available to police forces across England and Wales, with cutting-edge drones to track offenders and mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras the police can move around in rural areas,"  the commissioner added.

"As commissioner, I am committed to supporting rural communities to feel safer, be safer and be more connected to their police force."

Tomorrow (Friday), PCC Jones, with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary's Chief Constable, Scott Chilton, will be officially reopening Ryde Police Station to the general public, starting at 10.30am.