In Avon and Somerset POlice, the force’s Rural Crime Team has secured almost £8000 of security items such as alarms and security cameras which can be loaned to farms and smallholdings while there is a higher risk of livestock or equipment theft and other crime, or as a demonstration before making a decision to buy privately. These items have been chosen so that they are appropriate for, and sturdy enough, for farms, police say.
The kit boxes were distributed to rural crime officers and PCSOs from across the force area at a briefing day, at a farm owned by Somerset NFU chairman Nick Bragg in South Petherton. The 50 local rural crime contacts were given more detailed training and briefed about the rollout across the force of the Farmwatch scheme.
This comes on the eve of the launch of Operation Hamper in Avon and Somerset which is aimed at preventing pre-Christmas rural crime such as theft of fuel oil, livestock and high-value seasonal food, as well as domestic burglaries.
Supt Ian Wylie, who has responsibility for rural crime, said: “The extensive rural areas of Avon and Somerset are a pleasure for us to police but we are under no illusions about the challenge of preventing and detecting crime here, which is why we take this element of our work so seriously.
“Today’s training is about creating a network of experts across the organisation which will support our ambition to build a much higher degree of capability in relation to rural crime issues and enhance the consistent quality of service that we can offer all victims.”
The force already operates a Farmwatch scheme to share information about crime, prevention advice and suspicious activity, and this will be joined by a Horsewatch scheme early in 2015. Rural crime team Sgt Stuart Williams said: “Our work is designed to make the countryside a difficult place for criminals to operate, and we can do this best by having more of our farmers join the watch scheme and for everyone in the countryside making sure that their property is secure, marked and not an inviting target.
“I hope anyone concerned about rural crime will contact their local expert officer to discuss the options open to them by calling their local station on 101, or using the enquiry form on the force website.”
