Rural Crime Renaissance
I’m hearing from an increasing number of members about rural crime, and there appears to have been a recent uptick in incidents. Current hotspot areas seem to include Ribble Valley, Pendle, Clitheroe, Greater Manchester and the urban-fringe areas of Merseyside.
We have been liaising closely with the Police Rural Crime Team on these concerns. We had arranged a meeting in Ribble Valley, but unfortunately it had to be cancelled because the officers due to attend were redeployed for the England World Cup match. It was a useful reminder that when England are playing, even the Rural Crime Team can find itself dealing with a different kind of livestock! We will rearrange the meeting once the tournament is over. We are also looking to organise similar events in Merseyside and North Manchester.
The main issue being reported is farm theft, so please remain vigilant and take any precautions you can to protect equipment, machinery, and livestock.
I know many of you choose not to report incidents to the police because the process can be time-consuming and, understandably, there is often a perception that little comes from making a report. However, the police continue to stress the importance of reporting all incidents, no matter how minor they may seem. Reporting crime not only helps the police build a clearer intelligence picture but also provides the NFU with the evidence we need when making the case for additional resources and stronger enforcement action.
Where possible, please use the police’s online reporting service. This allows you to provide full details of the incident, ensuring the information is accurately recorded in police systems. By contrast, reports made by phone may result in only key details being logged, which can sometimes mean essential information is missed.
Wildfire Watch
With this prolonged spell of hot, dry weather, another constant concern is the risk of wildfires. Unfortunately, these are becoming an increasingly familiar feature of our summers, particularly in rural areas. If you see anything suspicious or spot signs of a fire, please report it immediately to your local Fire and Rescue Service.
Mayor Matters
It is anyone’s guess who will succeed Andy Burnham as the next Mayor of Greater Manchester – the new ‘King or Queen of the North’. Whoever emerges victorious, the NFU’s job is to make sure they understand that Greater Manchester is not just trams, tower blocks, and traffic jams. There is also a thriving farming community within the city region, and its needs must not be overlooked in favour of ever-expanding urban development. Farm businesses need support, understanding and sensible local policies from those making decisions. While agriculture may not feature heavily in most mayoral debates, it remains an important part of Greater Manchester’s economy, environment, and food production. Someone, after all, must keep the city fed.
With this in mind, we have written to all mayoral candidates. So far, we have met with Green Party candidate Geraldine Coggins, who joined us on a visit to the wonderful Wythenshawe Community Farm. It provided an opportunity to discuss the issues facing farmers and demonstrate that Greater Manchester contains rather more fields than many people at the town hall seem to realise. Our thanks go to farm manager Allen Massey for hosting us and helping to showcase the valuable role farming plays within the region. We look forward to meeting the remaining candidates and ensuring farming stays firmly on their agenda.
See you at Garstang
Looking ahead, our next event is Garstang Show on Saturday 1 August. If you have never been, I can highly recommend it—it’s a fantastic family-friendly show and one of the highlights of the local agricultural calendar. Do come along to the NFU marquee for a chat and a brew. As always, you will find us directly opposite the main ring, which should make us easy to locate, even after a few hours of wandering around looking at livestock, machinery and stalls you never intended to stop at.
It would be great to see you there. Whether you want to discuss farming issues, catch up on the latest news, or simply enjoy a sit-down with a cup of tea, you will be very welcome. After all, no agricultural show is complete without spending at least a few minutes putting the world's problems to rights over a brew.