Rural landowners and businesses have met with Kent Police chiefs to discuss plans to tackle crime.

Kent Police chief constable Alan Pughsley met with representatives from the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and landowners' association the CLA, to hear an update on the force's strategy for tackling rural crime and partnership working during an annual liaison meeting.

Held both at police headquarters in Maidstone and Saynden Farm in Staplehurst, topics tackled included farm security and the thefts of high-value tools and machinery. Police were given an update on the economic outlook for the farming sector.

NFU south east regional director William White said: “The chief constable has listened to concerns from the rural community and, helped by Kent Police and crime commissioner Matthew Scott, the force has now been given the necessary resources to deploy an additional six new rural police officers across the county.

"Kent Police faces huge challenges in this large and densely populated county. However, farmers and landowners recognise that they must take steps to protect themselves from becoming victims of crime and work more closely with police.”

CLA south east regional surveyor Tim Bamford said: “We appreciate police have a range of significant pressures, particularly in Kent where making contingency Brexit plans is so important for rural businesses in the county and beyond. But we want to ensure that tackling rural crime such as fly-tipping, hare coursing and machinery theft remains a top priority, as it affects so many landowners and farmers.

"Kent Police is a pro-active force and we look forward to continuing to work closely together in the future.”