POLICE in Ayrshire have revealed details of their latest efforts to tackle rural crime in the area.

Officers from the Ayrshire police division worked with a range of partners from the Ayrshire Partnership Against Rural Crime (APARC).

Meetings have been held with Forestry and Land Scotland and plans have been drawn up for joint patrols and joint working to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour within their forest estate.

Police also attended Ayr Agricultural Mart and engaged with the farming community along with staff at South Ayrshire Council's waste management department, insurer NFU Mutual, and the NFU Scotland farmers' union.

Officers have been giving livestock worrying and fly-tipping lessons to schools across Ayrshire alongside East Ayrshire Council's environmental crime team.

PC Andrew Thorne, Police Scotland's Ayrshire rural crime officer, said: “Police Scotland remains committed to supporting the activities of our rural communities.

"Working together through the APARC model is helping to address matters of concern and develop local problem-solving solutions.”