Rising crime is one of the many unfortunate side effects of recession. With people losing their jobs, fewer vacancies and money pressures growing, more people are forced to turn to crime or to move into new types of crime.

In September I published a report on the impact of retail crime on local communities. The report highlighted that over the past twelve months shoplifting increased by ten percent.

I was very concerned to read in the Star last week that rural areas in Shropshire are being targeted by organised gangs from Merseyside, Manchester and the West Midlands, stealing thousands of pounds worth of plant and machinery. This reinforces messages I have been receiving from constituents who have had tractors and other high value machinery stolen in recent months.

This is of great concern to farmers and local businesses, as well as residents who have suffered from shed break-ins.

The report of The Retail Crime Commission recommended that Government needs a new approach to crime, more sensitive to the needs of local areas. This concurred with Conservative policy to allow police forces to publish local crime statistics every month and extend crime mapping so local people are better informed about crime in their area.

Crime mapping is currently only available in a small minority of police areas, with a limited number of offences being mapped, with limited ability to zoom in to specific areas.

But it is not enough just to provide information, it must be acted on. Conservatives are proposing regular 'Beat' meetings to enable local people to ensure police are targeting resources at those areas most in need. These proposals would empower people to respond to the rise of a particular type of crime in a specific area and ensure police direct resources appropriately as a result.