Farmers meet with police over crime fears in Shropshire and Staffordshire

 Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock and Wolverhampton NFU members held the meeting on January 30  with officers and those offering crime prevention advice to farms and rural communities.

Threats such as equipment theft, livestock worrying and fly-tipping, among others, continue to disrupt farming life.

The meeting at Bridgnorth Livestock Market was organised by the NFU alongside rural insurer NFU Mutual and saw farmers look at the latest tag technology to track vehicles and stolen machinery.

Operation Galileo was also discussed, which is having an impact on illegal hare coursing, where dogs are used to chase, catch and kill hares across fields and open countryside.

Edward Garratt, NFU county adviser, said: “This meeting was open to all given that rural crime remains a serious issue for farmers across both counties.

“We were pleased to welcome rural crime officers from West Mercia Police, Shropshire and Staffordshire and others concerned with crime prevention.

“We also heard of some of their recent operational successes to catch and prosecute offenders alongside reports there has been a reduction in rural crime in the area."

“Farmers will remain vigilant and I would urge them to join Farmwatch schemes and for all to keep an eye out for suspicious people or vehicles, help the police gather intelligence and report offences.”

NFU Mutual’s theft recovery team and representatives from CESAR Datatag, ATV Trac, CCTV specialists and The Equipment Register were also in attendance alongside Chandlers Farm Equipment, Morris Corfield and Farm and Garden Machinery (Bridgnorth) Ltd.

All tractors from Chandlers and Morris Corfield come with CESAR Datatags fitted and quads from Farm and Garden Machinery are fitted with trackers to help deter and recover stolen kit.

There was a practical demonstration at the event on the latest closed circuit camera technology and how they could be employed effectively on farm.

Alongside environmental damage hare coursing can also lead to the damage of fields and crops, theft, intimidation and road traffic issues due to unlicensed and uninsured vehicles.

Prevention remains the focus of Galileo, supported by more sophisticated prosecution and intelligence-gathering.

A key focus for the NFU remains the implementation of the secondary legislation available under the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act. 

While the Act currently covers ATVs and quad bikes, there is a pressing need to extend the measures to include GPS units, which have increasingly become frequent targets for theft.

GPS unit thefts alone rose by a staggering 137% to an estimated £4.2m according to the NFU Mutual’s 2023 rural crime report with further cases reported throughout 2024.

As well as reporting incidents, anyone with information about rural crime can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or fill in a form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org on-line.