Hitchin MP Bim Afolami is set to a host rural crime meeting.

Mr Afolami will join officers from Herts Police at an open public meeting to discuss local policing priorities.

The meeting, which is being organised by Mr Afolami, is open to residents in north Hertfordshire villages within the Hitchin and Harpenden constituency and will take place on Friday, February 11 between 6pm to 7pm in Lilley Memorial Hall.

Hitchin's MP has been working with local Councillors and the Police and Crime Commissioner to address growing reports of rural crime, including, as Hitchin Nub News has reported previously, the disgusting issue of fly-tipping.

Mr Afolami has been campaigning in Westminster to toughen the sentences given to those found guilty of fly-tipping and he has been working with ministerial colleagues to improve the tools available to local police officers to prevent and catch fly-tippers.

"I have recently been contacted by a number of residents in villages in north Hertfordshire about a growing problem of rural crime," Mr Afolami said.

"Fly-tipping, hare coursing and other particularly rural crimes have been particular concerns, as well as growing levels of crime more generally.

"It is vitally important that these issues – and any others being experienced by local residents – can be dealt with so that people feel safe in their communities."

Mr Afolami has previously met with Hitchin police to discuss dangerous HGVs on Grove Road.

He added: "This meeting will allow us to more effectively tackle local crime and I hope that as many people as possible are able to attend to let us know how we can make our communities safer."

Residents wishing to attend the meeting are encouraged to RSVP at www.bimafolami.co.uk/events/north-hertfordshire-rural-crime-meeting