Police to step up their war on rural criminals

Rural communities can feel the impact of crime more because they often feel more isolated or less supported, police chiefs in North Yorkshire have warned.

Yesterday North Yorkshire Police announced it was stepping up the fight against rural crime with the launch of a new Country Watch scheme throughout the Craven District, which it is hoped will encourage communities to look out for each other and make it harder for criminals to operate.

Officers say they recognise that farmers can be massively impacted by crime if they lose livestock or a vital piece of machinery.

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Insp Will Scarlett, of Craven Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team, said yesterday: “By the nature of rural crime, individuals and communities can feel more impacted when a crime occurs to them, or near them, as they can feel more isolated and less supported.

“These feelings have been borne out of surveys, done by the police and other organisations, like NFU Mutual.

“Country Watch looks to support these communities and bring them together, so that along with the police, they look out for each other, report incidents, and make life for more difficult for criminals.”

Country Watch is a crime prevention initiative specially designed to help people living and working in Craven’s rural areas.

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People who join the scheme, will also be signed up to a community messaging system, called Ringmaster, which is used to pass out information about crimes and suspicious incidents as well as inform members of successes in the fight against rural crime.

Recent figures from the National Farmers’ Union showed that as many as one in three farmers in Yorkshire had been the victim of crime.

The move to build closer links with communities is seen as vital by police forces across the country at a time when they are faced with having to make dramatic cutbacks in their budgets.

Those taking part will also receive a free pack containing gate signs, a car badge, a crime prevention booklet and information about crime prevention products.

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The free packs have been part-funded by the Craven Community Safety Partnership.

Stacey Mitchell, partnership co-ordinator for the partnership, said: “With Craven having a number of borders with other districts it is imperative that we have a network of individuals that can assist in our ability to tackle cross border crime.”

Country Watch members are also entitled to a visit from an a officer, who will do a crime prevention survey of their property and suggest a number of measures they can take, to help reduce their chances of becoming a victim of crime.

“My ultimate aim would be for any criminal travelling into Craven to see the Country Watch sign on every farm entrance, building, or beauty spot, so that the message is loud and clear: they are being watched and are not welcome here,” Insp Scarlett added.

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He said the scheme had the potential to grow and it would consider patrols with members in the area – as happens in other parts of North Yorkshire and surrounding forces.

NFU Mutual has been a key partner although Country Watch hopes for others to become involved from farms to caravan parks, pubs, stables, parish councils, schools, rural businesses, visitor attractions, residents, hunts, campsites, game keepers, churches and others.

Visit www.northyorkshire.police.uk/farmwatch for information.