A NEW initiative called Rural Watch aims to inspire members of the public to crack down on crime in the countryside.

It was launched last week in the Salisbury police division.

To the average tourist, places like Wiltshire might appear to be a rural idyll. But of course crime is as rife in rural areas as it is in the suburbs.

One type of criminal preys entirely on people who leave valuables in their cars while they do their sight seeing at beauty spots. They are highly professional and make rich pickings.

One suspected thief arrested at a beauty spot near Marlborough even carried a dustpan and brush in his car so that after smashing car windows he could leave the countryside spic-and-span.

Rural Watch has taken lessons from other highly successful initiatives like Neighbourhood Watch, Farm Watch, Horse Watch and Canal Watch.

But unlike those tried and tested schemes, Rural Watch is not directed at just one section of the community.

It's aim is to embrace everyone who has any involvement with the countryside, no matter how small.

Salisbury division police spokesman David Taylor said: "Far from being restricted to residents, membership is being actively encouraged from landowners, employees, those who use the countryside for recreation together with national organisations such as the National Trust, Forestry Commission, Ramblers Association and the National Farmers Union."

Mr Taylor explained that information fed in by the public would be exchanged through a telephone cascade system and by e-mail.

The launch of Rural Watch took place at Amesbury in the heart of the Salisbury divisions that covers the areas of Kennet and Salisbury districts.

Members will be encouraged to contact each other about suspected incidents in their own area.