New scheme launched to curb crime in countryside

A NEW campaign to cut country crime across Glamorgan has been launched to put an end to opportunist thieves stealing valuable agricultural equipment and tools.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales Glamorgan county team have been in talks with South Wales Police Commissioner Alun Michael over increasing theft and vandalism in the region.

Working with South Wales Police, FUW county executive officer Rachel Saunders and members of the union’s county executive are putting in place new measures to prevent rural crime.

“There are increasing numbers of incidents where valuable machinery has been taken, and it has proven to be impossible to retrieve it,” said Rachel. “Now, by building closer links between our members and the police, we aim to turn this round and make would-be thieves think again about targeting south Wales.”

The first step in the campaign is to build links across the region’s farming community, making landowners – whether they are members or not – aware that there is support out there.

“The problem we have identified is that many farmers just don’t report random crime for one reason or another. Our message is that everyone in the countryside needs to report even the most trivial offence to the police, and get a crime number,” said Rachel. “Then we ask that they should call us at 01446 774838, email Glamorgan@ fuw.org.uk or call in at the county office, so that we can keep a centralised record of all the crimes that have been committed.”

The aim is to evaluate crime levels, the most vulnerable targets and which areas are primary targets.

“With this empirical evidence we shall be able to report back to the Police Commissioner at further meetings and, working together, find new ways of making south Wales a ‘no-go’ for criminals,” said Rachel.

The new campaign will start rolling out at the local county shows across the region.