'I will provide special officers to protect churches and vulnerable buildings in the Harborough area' says Police and Crime Commissioner candidate

The Conservative fighting to become the county’s new Police & Crime Commissioner has vowed to do more to protect rural churches.
four men were arrested over a spate of thefts of lead from church roofs in Leicestershire, Rutland and neighbouring counties.four men were arrested over a spate of thefts of lead from church roofs in Leicestershire, Rutland and neighbouring counties.
four men were arrested over a spate of thefts of lead from church roofs in Leicestershire, Rutland and neighbouring counties.

Rupert Matthews made his pledge after four men were arrested over a spate of thefts of lead from church roofs in Leicestershire, Rutland and neighbouring counties.

The prospective commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland said: "The impact of these offences goes well beyond the significant financial cost.

“Communities have felt a great sense of loss at the damage caused to their heritage - and increased vulnerability due to the rural nature of many of the premises.

“If I am elected to be Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland, I will expand our Rural Crime Teams to provide effective cover across our two counties.”

Mr Matthews added: "I will also provide Heritage Crime Officers who will be trained to work on investigations such as this.

“They will also be tasked with providing site-specific advice to parish councils, church wardens and others responsible for the care of valuable, but vulnerable buildings and other structures.

“Very often these buildings are essential to the atmosphere of our villages and key to village life and community.

"It’s essential the police continue to work with rural communities to prevent offending.

“We should encourage anyone seeing or hearing anything suspicious at Heritage Sites, particularly at night, to contact police immediately.”

He said lead had been plundered from the church roof in Great Dalby, near Melton Mowbray, twice in the last two years.

“On the second theft it rained heavily before the missing roof was noticed.

“Carpets were sodden, pews were wet, stone floors were soaked, and brick floors had collapsed.

“Nevertheless, a rescue team of villagers made the building good enough for a double christening to go ahead the next day,” said Mr Matthews.

“It was a minor consolation that the church wardens were able to salvage some old lead from the porch with initials, dates and footprints from the 1700s.

“Our rural churches must and will be properly protected.”

The vote to elect the next Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland will be held on Thursday May 7 2020.