RURAL residents have the chance to make their voices heard in a new national crime poll.

The largest ever survey into crime and antisocial behaviour in rural areas has been launched in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to find out how the police can better serve rural communities.

The survey, launched by the National Rural Crime Network, is calling for people to come forward and give their views.

Anyone living or working in rural areas is being encouraged to take part in the survey to help build a picture of what is a widespread but often misunderstood issue.

The NRCN said you don't need to have been a victim of crime to have a view on how the police work.

Against a backdrop of policing budget reductions and a growing focus on higher crime areas, the new survey will assess how crime and anti-social behaviour affects individuals, both financially and emotionally. It added any crime that happens in an urban area can, and does, happen in rural areas too.

Chair of the NRCN Julia Mulligan, said: 'The full scale of crime in rural areas has never before been assessed.

'While official figures show rural crime, like crime in general, is decreasing, we are concerned about the wider implications on people and communities.

'By completing the survey, people can really have their say on how crime affects them and what they expect from local police and their partners.

'While average crime rates do tend to be higher in urban areas, tackling rural crime comes with its own specific challenges whether that be the ability of police forces to respond quickly or the scale of crimes which may go unreported.'

The survey is open until Wednesday, June 24.

To complete the survey or for more information on the NCRN visit http://www.national">www.national ruralcrimenetwork.net.