The report - ‘Working Together – Tackling Rural Crime in the North East’ - has been produced in response to the wide ranging debate that took place at the region’s first rural crime conference last year.
This saw farmers from across the region sit down with police officers from all seven local police forces to discuss what is working well and areas where there is still work to do.
The report outlines the problems facing the farming community, with agri-crime costing an estimated £7.8m in the North East in 2011, and highlights key examples of best practice including Durham constabulary’s approach to tackling metal theft, Durham County Council’s innovative fly-grazing initiative, Humberside Police’s wildlife crime crack-down and North Yorkshire Police’s commitment to Farm Watch schemes.
It then goes on to summarise the wide-ranging debate that took place at the conference. This highlighted the importance of improving communications both between police forces and between the police and rural residents.
Other key areas to focus on included better collaboration, greater co-ordination of resources and building the public’s and police’s capability to respond.
In summary the report underlines the NFU’s commitment to support closer working relationships and recommends:
A closer working relationship with new Police & Crime Commissioners
Renewed commitment from the police to recognise and respond to rural crime
An exploration of the feasibility of greater co-ordination of rural crime initiatives
Joint working to showcase examples of best practice
Continued efforts to challenge farmers’ apathy on farm security and crime reporting
A mapping exercise to establish coverage of current Farm Watch schemes
Efforts to encourage regular liaison meetings between the police and farming community.
For a copy of the report contact North East regional Office on 01904 451550.