Riders who love hacking and are looking to make a difference to rural life may be keen to take on an exciting new opportunity with their horses. Leicestershire Police is looking for Mounted Police Support Volunteers to join its Rural Crime Team, and applications are now open.

Working both with or without their horses, the volunteers will be helping to tackle issues affecting the countryside and providing support to the community.

As a Mounted Support Volunteer, tasks may include supporting rural crime prevention initiatives and local policing operations, building relationships with farms and rural businesses, increasing police visibility to deter antisocial behaviour, and offering crime prevention advice and tack marking services.

The recruited Mounted Support Volunteers will also promote safety and good citizenship, educate officers on horse handling and equine safety, and represent Leicestershire Police at schools, clubs and community events.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over, be an experienced and confident rider, have access to a horse and transport and be insured.

Volunteers will work under a Lead Volunteer and will also be supported by the Rural Crime and Volunteers in Policing Teams. They will receive training in how to use specialist databases and IT systems, as well as crime prevention and security marking.

Interested riders can apply here. Applications close on 9 November at 11.55pm.

Lead image: copyright Your Horse Library/Charlie Gooders Photography

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