A growing concern for farmers and land owners is that their machinery, livestock and other assets are susceptible to rural crime. From theft to fly-timing, rural crimes see a lack of cases being reported and this is due to many factors. Keep reading to see why you might be at threat and how to prevent this from happening to you!
Why does rural crime happen?
With yard full of expensive machinery and the secluded rural location, farms are definite targets for theft and other rural crime. It is often linked to organized crime groups who target for theft of machinery and livestock, poaching and hare coursing.
- Expensive equipment
Items used for the farming business are normally of high value making them a target for theft. Power tools, quad bikes, fuel, and other equipment are included in this.
- Ease of access
With the remote location and area of farms stretched over a large area, entering a property is easy and quick. There aren’t many people on the farm, especially at night, to keep an eye on the whole of the farm and little security.
- Security
Security is a huge determining factor in whether burglars can target a farm or not. Most farms are secured by a simple gate and lock.
A study conducted by R.I. Mawby explores the relationship between crime and place with the countryside. The paper argues that despite ample research on crime and rurality, little has been written about location in terms of the offender or victim. The paper draws on the Cornwall Crime Surveys (CCSs) in one rural county of England between 2002 and 2005 to develop a model of crime and place in the countryside. The model considers both the offender and victim’s status in the area and their reasons for being at the crime scene. The paper suggests that this model enhances our understanding of crime in rural areas, fear of crime, and effective crime reduction measures.
How to report it?
If you need to report rural crime, or have information, you can contact the police online or by telephone (999 in an emergency, 111 in a non-emergency).
The National Police Chiefs Council has created a Rural Affairs strategy which illustrates police priorities in this area. This includes:
- Farm machinery and vehicle theft
- Livestock offences
- Fuel theft
- Equine crime
- Fly tipping
- Poaching
- Heritage crime
Ways to decrease crime on your farm and local area
The NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2021 provides a Rural security checklist to secure your holding.
Physical
- Keep farm vehicles out of sight, locked up and remove the keys.
- Block access points that aren’t used often.
- Cut down overgrown planting that interrupts surveillance
- Remove GPS vehicles
- Fit window locks and locks on entrance doors
Community
- Join local rural and farm watch schemes
- Keep in contact with neighbors and rural crime team
- Report all crimes and suspicious sightings to police
Technology
- Use driveway detectors on access routes to your property
- Consult with police specialist about cctv systems
- Tracking devices and immobilizers on vehicles
- Floodlights and movement detection alarms on farm buildings
- Fuel tank alarm
Link: https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/globalassets/farming/rural-crime/2021/rural-crime-report-2021.pdf
A study conducted by K.Smith at Harper Adams University researches crime prevention as part on the business plan for rural start-ups.
The paper suggests that historically, crime in rural areas has not received as much attention as crime in urban areas, and changing policing strategies and budgets require rural communities to be more proactive. The paper encourages rural start-up businesses to include a crime prevention risk analysis in their business plan to increase their resilience and survival rates. The paper asserts that government policymakers and financial advisors should amend their guidance to ensure that crime prevention is an integral part of the business plan for rural start-ups, which could result in reduced insurance claims and premiums for these businesses.
Link: http://cdn.harper-adams.ac.uk/document/page/153_Kreseda-Smith—Rural-Crime-Prevention.pdf
Other links
https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/farming/rural-crime/
