POLICE in Dorset have a new weapon in the fight against rural crime.

The Country Watch website is a ‘one-stop rural resource centre’ for all things related to rural crime in the county.

The website, which can be found at www.countrywatchdorset.co.uk gives people the opportunity to find out more about crime prevention, how to report heritage crime or wildlife crime and where to get proactive advice and support if they are a victim of crime.

Announcing the new initiative, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: "It came about after receiving feedback from the rural community that they were spending a lot of time on different websites trying to find out information when it came to rural issues and they wanted one place to go to, to find out how to do relatively simple things – like report fly-tipping for example – so now there is a simple, quick and easy way to find the information and links needed."

He added: "I want to thank all the members of the Rural Crime Reduction Board (RCRB) for their commitment to work alongside each other – we are stronger together and we will be able to make a positive difference to the lives of Dorset residents by the work we undertake together.

"I would invite you to take a look at the website www.countrywatchdorset.co.uk to find out more about how we are tackling rural crime and the work of the RCRB."