Grant empowers young Worth Valley farmers to tackle crime

Worth Valley Young Farmers Club has been awarded a grant of almost £5,000 from West Yorkshire Police as part of its community fund generated from the proceeds of crime.

The funding will allow the club to start its own messaging service which farmers and others in the local rural community will be able to register for via a bespoke website.

Andrew Wood, one of the club’s leaders, said: “In the Worth Valley area we have noticed more and more rural crime in the last few years. Every other day somebody has had some sort of problem.

“We have got a bit fed up with it so we have come up with this idea to use modern technology to live report what’s happening. What we might end up with is 500 extra eyes and ears and a live link between residents and police.”

Mr Wood envisages that the intelligence gathering system will benefit the rural fringe of Keighley, Oakworth, Haworth, Oxenhope, Stanbury and Cross Roads.

He added: “We are keen to use local goodwill in the rural community and modern technology to help the police cut down on rural crime. It’s a constant thing in the rural community that we want to try and at least reduce, if not eliminate.”
According to the club leader, typical incidences of rural crime in the Worth Valley area are thefts from vehicles and outbuildings, as well as Land Rovers, quad bikes and stone flags.

The young farmers club was awarded £4,895 from the police’s Safer Communities Fund - one of 40 community projects to receive a share of more than £167,000.