The NFU (National Farmers Union) has launched a new service for farmers and the public to give information anonymously about rural crime, a freephone 0800 line by the charity Crimestoppers. You can also pass on details anonymously online. Typical crimes harming the countryside are large-scale fly-tipping, hare coursing, machinery and livestock theft.
NFU Deputy President Guy Smith said: “Rural crime can be devastating for farmers and their businesses and it is something that many experience all too often. With suspected links to organised crime, these crimes often go under-reported and its true extent remains unknown.
“The NFU has teamed up with the charity Crimestoppers to provide a service for farmers and the public to give information anonymously about these crimes. With relevant information being passed to the police, this service could help to provide key leads in the pursuit of these criminals.
“I want to encourage anyone who has experienced, witnessed or has any information about these rural crimes to come forward and call the line – your information could be extremely valuable. The NFU has been consistently leading on engaging with MPs, government and police to help begin to put a stop to these destructive crimes. Nearly a year on from releasing our Rural Crime Report, the NFU has brought this issue to the forefront of its activity and we continue to call on the Government to form a cross-departmental task force to focus on rural crime and address the failures in dealing with it.
“It is time that we saw some considerable action being taken by government and police to curb increasing levels of crime in the countryside, and allow farmers to do what they do best – producing food for the nation.”
And Crimestoppers’ Director of Business Development Rodger Holden said: “The NFU should be applauded for launching the Rural Crime Reporting Line in partnership with the charity Crimestoppers, on behalf of all farmers and their communities. This is a joined up initiative, supported by law enforcement, that strives to reduce and detect crimes that directly threaten people’s livelihoods, their peace of mind, and are a real cost to us all. We all have a responsibility to support the countryside by working together to combat criminal activity.”
To give information call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 783 0137 or go to www.ruralcrimereportingline.uk.
Meanwhile the NFU raised its concerns with the Solicitor General that prosecutions of rural crime and the sentences given do not act as a suitable deterrent.
In a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Rural Crime, the NFU expressed to the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP the need for an effective justice system that reflects the true costs of rural crime to farmers. There were calls for police to seize dogs from hare coursers and have the ability to reclaim kenneling costs, first raised by the NFU with the Policing Minister Nick Hurd.
NFU chief land management adviser Sam Durham said: “Rural crime has devastating impacts for farmers and food producing businesses, and it is only right that the punishments handed down to these criminals are severe enough to act as a deterrent. This was an excellent opportunity to meet with the Solicitor General to raise these points and how rural crime affects farmers and rural communities.”
See also the NFU’s rural crime report.
