Farmers, landowners and local residents - the volunteer groups providing 'eyes and ears' for North Yorkshire Police

The Mobile Rural Watch volunteer groups, which are made up of farmers, landowners and local residents, use instant messaging and go “on patrol” to spread the word about any suspicious behaviour or vehicles.

North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan, who is also the chairwoman of the National Rural Crime Network, claimed communities had become an ever more vital part of crime-fighting in rural parts of North Yorkshire over recent years.

She added: “We cannot underestimate the value of these groups, who put so much time and energy into their work, all voluntarily, and all for the good of their community.”

Government adviser branded "completely out of touch" for claim Britain does not need farmersReintroducing native predators could boost the survival of species such as the red squirrelMrs Mulligan said there are now 20 rural watch groups in North Yorkshire, some of which are managed by innovative approaches like WhatsApp groups.

The volunteer groups are led by the communities with police support and, Mrs Mulligan said, play a pivotal role in gathering evidence, sharing information, supporting policing and keeping each other safe.

But she warned that North Yorkshire Police needed to make sure the effort volunteers put into the groups is repaid, both by responding when they can to reports of rural crime and also continuing to engage “openly and honestly”.

The work of the groups was acknowledged by Inspector Matt Hagen, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, who said: “The contribution of these volunteers is invaluable in the fight against rural crime.”

He was speaking after a meeting held to set up a new group around Thixendale, Wolds Against Rural Crime, which saw 60 potential volunteers attend.

The meeting, led by the North Yorkshire Police Rural Taskforce, was also attended by Thixendale resident and wildlife artist Robert Fuller.

Mr Fuller, who is well-known for his work with wildlife around his home, revealed that he wanted to take action after finding one of the barn owls he monitors shot dead.

He said the use of instant messaging would be a real asset for rural communities.

Mr Fuller added: “Having the ability to report anything suspicious immediately is really useful.

“Through the monitored WhatsApp group, the police are able to give us feedback about whether a vehicle or person is suspicious, and it means we can all help each other.”

However, Mrs Mulligan said the need for the groups pointed to a wider issue around the lack of resources in rural policing.

She said: “There is not a fair playing field between rural and urban policing at the moment, and so communities are resorting to have to come together off their own backs to better protect themselves.

“If a similar level of visibility was mirrored in urban areas there would be national outcry, and rightly so. I hope the Government’s focus on cutting crime applies equally to rural communities as it does urban who, let’s not forget, are already more vulnerable due to their isolation where crime often impacts on homes and livelihoods.”