'I became a mounted police volunteer after fatal car crash'
BBCA woman has revealed how the death of her mother-in-law in a crash inspired her to join a new mounted police unit.
Emily Thomas is one of 16 volunteers who work with Warwickshire Police to help combat rural crime.
When applications went out at the beginning of the year, she said she knew it was a way of giving back after the support she received from police officers.
Her mother-in-law, Marguerite Thomas, was killed in a car crash two years ago, just a few weeks after her first grandchild was born.
"The family liaison officers at the time were just amazing, so supportive and we will just always remember their compassion," Emily said.
"When I saw the advert online that they're looking for mounted volunteers, I just thought this is for me, and I want to give something back and this the perfect way for me to do it."
The volunteer horse riders do not have any of the powers that police officers or community support officers have, but they are equipped with helmet cameras and are extra eyes and ears in the countryside.
Footage filmed by the group has been used to investigate instances of fly-tipping, among other crimes.
The mounted unit has been trained and equipped thanks to £8,000 from the force's Problem Solving Fund, which provides financial support for projects that tackle local issues.
They also have to pass road safety exams before they can go out into the community.
However, for Emily, getting back out on the road - whether in a car or on horseback - was not easy after Marguerite's death.
"Once I started riding again, I was just scared to go out on the road," she said.
"Even though I wasn't in it personally, I wasn't in the car, I just didn't trust any other driver.
"I was always a very confident rider out on the road and it took a lot of strength to try and get back out there.
"Rupert [my horse] is such a good boy. It's down to him really that's given me the confidence to go back out on the road and be able to volunteer and give back to the police in a positive way and support with rural crime is brilliant."
Emily ThomasSgt Ruth Day from Warwickshire Police's rural crime team is in charge of the mounted volunteers.
She said: "The mounted volunteers help by being out and about in rural and sometimes under-represented areas. They are able to get to places that potentially we aren't able to patrol and at various different times of the day as well.
"They've been a really valuable asset and they offer a lot of extra volunteer hours and time and it's always great to have extra eyes and ears out in the countryside."
Ch Insp Chloe Barnes, head of operations for the force, said some of the intelligence supplied by the volunteers had been around fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour, but they had also taken part in national police road safety campaigns like Operation Close Pass and Operation Insight.
A recent report published by the National Farmers' Union showed that the cost of rural crime generally fell in the past year, but it has raised concerns about "worrying increases" of agricultural and livestock thefts.
Warwickshire's Rural Crime Team investigated almost 1,200 incidents and 167 crimes between January and September 2026.
Crime levels remained broadly stable, with officers solving more than half of recorded offences.
Agricultural machinery theft, livestock offences, wildlife crime and environmental crime continue to be key concerns.