Farmers losing battle against rural criminals

Sheep worrying, theft and trespassing are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the issues Kent’s farmers face.

While Kent Police looks to recruit further bobbies on the beat, we can only hope our farms can be afforded the extra security and protection of officers.

We seem to write stories each month about farmers being subjected to horrendous crimes including threats of violence and break-ins, but they feel like they are not given the necessary help when reporting the crimes to police.

This week we are running a piece about farmers, who were too afraid to be named for fear or reprisal, that believe police are not doing enough to look after their land and possessions.

It seems as though dwindling numbers of police walking the beat has had an impact on the so-called “lawless” nature of the farmyard battle grounds where farmers fear their calls for extra security are falling on deaf ears.

It was worrying to hear farmers suggest the 101 nonemergency number was not effective and they felt let down by the county’s force, but it is important that each crime is reported and give police the best chance possible of catching the criminals behind the latest burglary or threat of violence.

There is no bottomless pit of cash to hire extra police but the farming community has been asked to provide as much evidence as possible including dashcam footage.

This is by no means a call for vigilante farmers, but a strong and close-knit group of workers to help put a stop to the spread and rise of costly crimes in our countryside.

There is no quick solution but police need our help as much as we need theirs.