RURAL crime has reached ‘epidemic’ levels in Monmouthshire as well as other parts of Wales and the police seem powerless to stop it according to a report by farming insurers, NFU Mutual who claim farmers are resorting to ‘medieval’ security methods to protect their livelihoods.

Farmers are said to be digging earth banks and ditches along field boundaries to stop criminals driving 4x4s onto farmland as well as reinforced gates to protect entrances to farmyards from ram raids and increasing ‘protective’ animals, such as geese and dogs.

Statistics released this week show South Wales has the highest percentage increase in rural theft cost across the whole of the UK at 41% over twelve months, with raiders commonly targeting quad bikes and ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles), livestock and tools.

Julian Kelly, NFU Mutual Agent in South Wales, said, ‘There is widespread concern across South Wales that a new breed of brazen criminals are targeting the countryside and are overcoming security to steal expensive equipment.

‘Farmers are being forced to combine medieval methods with high-tech security to combat modern-day crime. Stockade fences and high-security single access points are helping fortify farms against criminals who use 4 x 4 vehicles to get onto farm land to commit crimes and evade police.

‘Farmers are also using hi-tech tracking devices and immobilisers on vehicles, CCTV video, dashcams, motion sensors, infra-red surveillance and SmartWater marking in their farmyards and even DNA markers to protect sheep from rustlers.’

The report has also found that limited police resources and repeat attacks are the biggest fears for people in rural communities, with many forced to change the way they live and work as a result of rural crime.

An NFU spokesman stated, ‘With police facing huge challenges – including budget cuts and extra workload – forces are finding it hard to resource rural policing and this may be one of the reasons for the rise in thefts we are seeing,

‘However social media is fast becoming the new eyes and ears of the countryside, strengthening the community ties that help in the reporting and recording of crime and bringing thieves to justice.’

Thieves, emboldened by the knowledge that police are hampered by budget cuts, are becoming more and more brazen, ‘casing’ properties to immobilise security alarms and lights prior to making their raids.

Monmouthshire farmer, Christopher Jones, has increased security after thieves broke into his outbuildings during a storm to steal a quad bike, generator, welder, chainsaws, drills and a range of other tools.

‘They even wheeled the bike and generator past my mother’s home because we could see the tyre tracks the next day,’ said Christopher who runs a mixed beef, sheep and arable farm.

‘We’ve since increased physical and high-tech security on the farm and I get an alert on my mobile now if anything suspicious is detected. There isn’t a farm watch scheme as such, but we tend to know if anything is going on and will be on high alert during bad weather in the future.’

NFU Mutual director Christine Kennedy stated, ‘Increasingly, we are hearing thefts are carefully planned and organised by gangs; some farms are being repeatedly targeted. The knowledge that thieves have watched your movements and can come onto your farm to steal leads to long-term anxiety.

‘Unlike most urban businesses, farmers can’t lock-up all of their machinery and equipment in one secure building at night. Farms are family homes as well as places of work, and worrying about every night-time noise in the farmyard is enough to drive already hard-pressed farmers to consider their future.

‘Today the impact of rural crime is also being felt by the wider public. Farm vehicles are stolen to commit larger scale crimes, such as ram raiding cashpoints in nearby towns. Missing livestock strikes at the centre of our animal traceability system and can undermine the integrity of our food security.

‘The global demand for stolen agricultural machinery is attracting organised criminal gangs to the countryside. The police are suffering because they’ve had cuts to their budget. I sympathise with the police because I think they’re trying, but I think they’re not sufficiently focused on the problem.’

David Davies MP for Monmouthshire commented, ‘The cost of rural crime is of huge concern to the farming community, this important issue was raised at a recent NFU meeting I attended in Abergavenny.

 

‘I have noticed that social media is becoming an important tool for reporting and recording such criminal activity in the countryside, and assisting in bringing those responsible to justice, which will no doubt be a force for good in combating this increasing problem. 

 

‘The police must also realise that rural crime is becoming more of a problem.  Farmers are using technology such as tracking devices, CCTV and DNA markers (protecting livestock) to protect their property from theft in addition to more traditional methods.

‘I would personally like to see stricter sentences for criminals and a stronger police presence to ensure that resources are allocated to tackle the crimes that matter to those in rural areas such as Monmouthshire.’

Gwent Police were invited to comment but declined due to staffing shortages and holidays, stating the officer responsible for rural crime was on annual leave.