NFU launches rural crime hub as one-stop shop for best prevention advice

“The continued spate of illegal sheep butchering across the Midlands this year just shows the organised nature of many of these crimes and the devastating effect rural crime can have on farm businesses.”

He added it was crucial that farmers took ‘as many measures as possible’ to prevent crime and report incidents to the police to ensure they are ‘recorded properly and investigated’.

“This hub gives farmers and rural communities the tools to do that,” Mr Smith said.

Intimidation

“We are aware that some crimes can leave victims nervous about reporting to the authorities, especially when that crime has involved violence, intimidation and threatening behaviour.

“Our partnership with the independent charity Crimestoppers enables us to continue to run the Rural Crime Hotline, a service that gives people a route to give information 100 per cent anonymously about rural crime and I would encourage everyone to spread the word about this service.

“The more information we can give, the better chance the investigators have of finding and prosecuting those responsible for rural crime.”

Latest NFU Mutual figures showed the industry had been victim to costs of almost £50 million, with 2018 figures at a seven-year high.

On Sunday (October 6) North Yorkshire Police launched Operation Checkpoint, sharing intelligence and information across force boundaries to target criminals and disrupt their use of the road network in rural areas.

Wiltshire Police has taken to social media to provide crime prevention advice and encourage residents to report all rural incidents to the police.

For more on the hub, click here.