The package gives Young Farmers practical suggestions that they can make when visiting local farms in their club area that will encourage the farmer to help prevent themselves from becoming victims of crime.
Twenty farm studies students from Kendal College helped to review the training content that was developed by the Police Crime Prevention Academy from an original idea of Cumbria Neighbourhood Watch Association in partnership with Cumbria Young Farmers Clubs and NFU Mutual.
The students were presented with the certificates by the High Sheriff of Cumbria at Wigton Auction Mart.
The ‘Helping to prevent Farm Crime’ training module has now been passed on to the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs to be piloted before being adopted as one of the ‘Curve’ modules that Young Farmers’ Clubs across the UK can access.
Joe Murray, Chair of Cumbia Neighbourhood Watch said: “These students will hopefully just be the first of many young people to receive the crime prevention training.
“This is a positive step in the right direction and has the potential to impact greatly in preventing thefts of high value machinery and equipment from the farming community and the consequences associated with it. Cumbria Neighbourhood Watch Association is proud to be actively associated with this project.”
Robbie Tuer, Cumbria YFC County Chair, said: “Cumbria YFC was keen to be involved in this project right from the start as rural crime is a very real and worrying threat for many of our members and their families.
"The Farm Crime Prevention initiative will give our young farmers the confidence and tools to be able to work with farmers and make a real difference in their local communities.”
Bob Henderson at NFU Mutual said: “Cumbria's young farmers are doing a great job helping fellow farmers to protect their machinery, farmyards, and livestock from increasingly determined thieves. As the insurer of most of Cumbria's farms we know the disruption, cost and anxiety that rural crime causes and we are delighted to support this important initiative.”
Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, said: “Cumbria is one of the most rural counties in the country so it’s fantastic that we now have 20 young farmers trained in crime prevention. I am extremely grateful to all those who have stepped forward to support their communities in this way.
"I hope others may feel inspired to join them – the more of us who can act as eyes and ears in our neighbourhood the safer they will be.
"Farmers and rural residents know their areas better than anyone and understand the impact of crime on their homes and businesses, so they are perfectly placed to protect themselves from being targeted by criminals.”