Farmwatch is a partnership between the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Omagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and the farming community to prevent and reduce rural crime and provide reassurance to rural communities. The services offered by the scheme include:
A PSNI property marking scheme, along with serial numbers that will be placed on a PSNI database, to make it more difficult for thieves to dispose of stolen goods;
A text alert service to provide updates on local crime and prevention;
Alarms for elderly and vulnerable residents; and
Crime prevention advice to farmers and landowners.
Launching the scheme at the Ecclesville Centre in Fintona, NI justice minister David Ford said: “Building on the popular Neighbourhood Watch scheme, the aim of Farmwatch is to stress the importance of vigilance, prevention and communication – both within rural and farming communities and between rural communities and the police.
“The services the scheme offers will, I hope, go some way to reduce rural crime and importantly, reduce the fear of crime that rural residents often feel.
“It is an excellent example of partnership working to address the needs of the local community.”
Looking at the overall impact of rural crime, David Ford continued: “I do not underestimate the impact of rural crime. Any crime is hugely distressing for the victim and agri-crime can also have significant financial implications for the incomes of farming families and the future sustainability of their businesses.
“I will shortly be launching the new Community Safety Strategy which will outline the importance of partnership working to support efforts to make rural communities safer.”
Praising the new Omagh PCSP, the Minister continued: “I want to congratulate Omagh PCSP for the work it is doing with farmers to build safer rural communities.
“Today’s event is a good example of work being done across Northern Ireland. I am keen to encourage PCSPs to share good practice as we seek to protect our people.
“The new PCSPs provide an excellent opportunity to bring together the local community, voluntary groups and statutory agencies to improve community safety.
“They will also be integral to the implementation of the new Community Safety Strategy which sets the direction for building safer, shared and more confident communities across Northern Ireland.”
Speaking at the event in the Ecclesville Centre, Fintona, the Chair Elect of the new Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Cllr Allan Rainey, MBE commended the initiative and encouraged farmers to take part in it. He said “Farmwatch will provide better avenues for local farmers to avail of support and crime prevention services. It is unique in that it will provide direct links between farmers and local PSNI neighbourhood officers, building community confidence and better communication. This development must be welcomed and supported at a time when rural crime is a real concern.”
Separately, after a Northern Ireland Assembly debate on rural crime the Justice Minister resisted calls for changes to the law and said that sentencing in individual cases must remain a matter for the independent judiciary. Under the current legislation, a person may use reasonable force to prevent a crime or to assist in the lawful arrest of offenders. This includes protecting your property or acting in self defence.
David Ford said: “It must be for the courts, and not a minister, to determine what reasonable force is in any individual case. I am determined to respect the independence of the judiciary but I want to explore if producing guidance on the use of reasonable force, based on the current legislation, would be beneficial to the rural community.”
The minister will now write to the Justice Committee and seek their views on the proposal.
David Ford said: “I understand the argument for the use of reasonable force to defend your property. However, what is reasonable force may well depend on what type of crime is involved.
“I find it hard to imagine any circumstances in which the use of deadly force would be justified in the defence of property. People must always act in accordance with the law, support the police and not take the law into their own hands.”
Ford said that through the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships initiatives are being held to address rural crime at a local level and the new Community Safety Strategy will support efforts to make rural communities safer. David Ford said: “Rural communities across Northern Ireland have specific needs and I do not underestimate the impact of agri-crime on farming families.
“In many cases it goes beyond the loss of property and can add to feelings of isolation and increase the fear of crime. My Department is aware of those needs and concerns and is working in partnership with the rural community to address them.”
