Police target crop circle ‘criminals’ who profit from drone footage

A SURGE in crop circles is being caused by drone users who upload their aerial footage on social media, a police force has said as it announced a crackdown on farm vandals.

Wiltshire Police issued a warning yesterday following a spate of incidents in recent months which officers said was being fuelled by scammers generating publicity online in order to make money from advertising.

So far this year the force has investigated 16 incidents, with a recent circle in Alton Barnes measuring 200 acres. However, the true number is thought to be higher because many farmers do not report them. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Marc Jackson, a rural crime officer, said Wiltshire had been disproportionately affected due to its proximity to Stonehenge, adding that crop circles were most commonly reported near to cultural heritage sites and busy main roads.

“They might seem harmless but they actually have a huge negative impact on the hardworking landowners and farmers whose crops are damaged,” he said. “Creating a crop circle is criminal damage and an offence.

“Often immediately after a crop circle appears, people arrive with a drone to photograph it. Individuals using a drone in the immediate time after a crop circle [is created], may be connected to the group who have created the circle. The footage is quickly circulated on social media to generate interest and on websites that charge for advertising space. It has also been known for individuals to pose as part of a charity or as the landowner … and attempt to take ‘donations’ from people viewing it.” Pc Jackson added that the damage results in a significant loss of revenue for farmers, who are also forced to deal with trespassers.

The National Farmers Union said crop circles posed a “considerable nuisance” and members of the public should refrain from giving vandals the desired publicity.