A TEENAGER has created an app that could curb the rising threat of rural crime.

The mobile phone application, which 15-year-old Aaron Christiansen produced in his spare time, allows anyone in the community to report suspicious activity such as poaching directly to the police.

The Standard recently reported on Operation Firefly, a Cotswolds Police initiative to combat rural crime which saw 18 officers scouring more than 30,000 acres of farmland over three nights.

Aaron, who lives in Cheshire, built the app as part of Project Poacher, a recently launched national campaign to fight wildlife crime.

The app can be downloaded free on Android, Apple and Windows phones and gives the user a step-by-step guide to creating a report which can pinpoint their location using the phone’s GPS.

This data can be sent to the police together with information about the type of incident, vehicles or suspects and any other witnesses; the app also provides extra information about poaching legislation.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and experience I have gained. My future goals include taking computing at A-level and then studying computer science at university,” said Aaron.

Project Poacher is an initiative of the England and Wales Poaching Priority Delivery Group (PPDG), which includes representatives of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), other specialist law enforcers and representatives from the Angling Trust, British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), The British Deer Society, Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Countryside Alliance, The Deer Initiative, The Environment Agency, National Farmers Union, The National Gamekeepers’ Organization and Natural Resources Wales.

To download the app go to http://www.projectpoacher.com.