Hare coursing, fly-tipping and firearms licensing were some of the subjects discussed at a barn meet with police and North Herts farmers last month.

The well-attended event, held at Ballslough Farm, Kimpton on Wednesday (25 March), saw presentations given by the North Herts Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), the Rural Operational Support Team (ROST), Police & Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards, North Herts Council and the Environment Agency.

The event also gave attendees the opportunity to ask questions and network.

Hitchin NPT Sergeant Taz Gill, said: "This was a really good barn meet, thanks to PCSO Stuart Stone for organising, The National Farmers' Union and to Ballslough Farm for hosting it.

"Barn meets are an annual event in the North Herts calendar and are an excellent way for us to update the rural community about the work we are doing to support them, but also, most importantly, it gives the rural community an opportunity to ask questions and raise issues of concern.

"Rural communities face issues which are very different to our urban communities, including machinery and livestock thefts, hare coursing, fly-tipping and heritage offences and we understand how these crimes affect farmers, landowners and businesses."