HE has made an impassioned pledge to put rural crime at the heart of his agenda.

Now Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes, pictured, will match actions with words when he meets thousands of country folk at the county’s largest agricultural show.

Mr Hayes will hear first-hand experiences from farmers, villagers and landowners in his constituency when he visits next week’s New Forest and Hampshire County Show.

The three-day extravaganza – backed by the Echo – opens in New Park, Brockenhurst, on Tuesday and is expected to attract more than 100,000 people to one of the biggest and best events of its kind in the south.

Mr Hayes visits the show from 2pm to 5pm on Wednesday where he will meet members of the public to outline his rural crime plans and listen to their stories.

He said: “The show provides me with an ideal engagement opportunity to meet with and talk to the public I represent. “I want to highlight the excellent proactive work being carried out to reduce rural crime and how partnership working is vital in achieving this.

“I look forward to meeting people at the show.”

Objectives set out in his Police and Crime Plan include halving the gap in solved crime rates between rural and non-rural beats and clamping down on farm machinery and plant thefts and targeting poaching and metal thefts.

He will also tour the arenas and meet exhibitors before manning the Hampshire Constabulary Country Watch Team’s stand in the ‘Countryside Area’ from 2.30-3.30pm while members of his office will be there offering advice throughout the whole show.

This year’s Royal visitors will be the Earl and Countess of Wessex and headliners include the Devils’ Horsemen.

More than 2,500 horses and riders will take part in an array of dressage and show jumping events and there will be 900 sheep, 300 cattle and 100 pigs in the livestock section.

There is also more than 600 trade stands showcasing countryside crafts, foods, clothing and machinery.

See newforestshow.co.uk for a full list of events.