The NFU is urging its farmer and grower members to sign up for DISC, a platform used by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary that enables people to report crime and suspicious activity easily.
Hampshire NFU adviser James FitzGerald, who is based at NFU South East, in Petersfield, said: “DISC is an effective system that allows witnesses to add photos and relevant details, with all the information becoming rapidly available to police, far more quickly than reports made by phone. This system also issues alerts to those in rural communities about suspicious people and vehicles moving around the county.
“It is vital that every suspicious activity and crime, no matter how small, is logged. The force, for this year, has funding for two analysts to look at patterns of crime, including those in rural areas. We must ensure that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has a true picture of crime so that it can allocate appropriate levels of resources. So farmers, make it your new year’s resolution to sign up for DISC and report!”
In December, rural police attended Hampshire NFU AGM in Winchester to outline the benefits of the system and explain how to join. Mr FitzGerald can pass on instructions to NFU members who wish to find out more.