Surrey’s top police officer is welcoming a report that’s revealed the cost of rural crime in the South East region has risen by 0.6%

The figures, released by NFU Mutual, are in comparison to an almost 9% increase nationally last year.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro says the lower figure in the South East is down to countryside crime being “actively targeted.”

Surrey’s Rural Crime Delivery Plan includes the deployment of specialist Wildlife and Rural Crime Officers by Surrey Police.

Mr Munro says the theft of high value items is often linked to serious and organised crime networks and has a large impact on countryside communities.

The latest figures to March show a dip in rural crimes recorded in Surrey, coupled with a sustained increase in positive outcomes since December.