Police seized and crushed a Land Rover Discovery used in a farm burglary – following a successful collaboration between the NFU and Hertfordshire constabulary. Information from local farmers helped police track down the vehicle after it was driving to a farm near Bishop’s Stortford, where the would-be thieves tried to steal an all-terrain vehicle on 27 February.
East Herts Rural Neighbourhood Sergeant David Miller said: “Rural crime has a big impact on our hardworking farmers and the wider community. We are determined to do all we can to prevent these crimes from happening and I hope this sends a message that we will not hesitate to seize vehicles that we know or suspect to have been used in crime.”
The vehicle was seized after evidence from Hertfordshire farmers led police to a site in Bedfordshire. The silver Discovery has now been crushed – with the intention of deterring offenders and preventing future criminal activity.
NFU Hertfordshire vice-chairman Ros David said: “NFU members were able to help make this happen by bringing information together, and CCTV evidence, which has led to this vehicle being crushed.
“This is just one example of how the NFU works well with Hertfordshire Police and it sends a clear message to those people who want to commit rural crime in Hertfordshire that this cannot continue, and the police will track you down.”
Police enquiries
Rural crime is a major issue for Hertfordshire farmers. Offences include machinery theft, dog attacks on livestock, hare coursing and fly-tipping – all of which are costing farmers hundreds of thousands of pounds. The cost of rural crime in Hertfordshire rose by 15.5% last year to £1.23m, according to the latest rural crime report from insurers NFU Mutual. The cost of rural crime across the UK fell by 16.5% last year to an estimated £44.1m.
Ms David, who works on her family’s arable and sheep farm at Knebworth, said: “We are working well with Hertfordshire Constabulary, holding regular meetings and officers are frequently out on farms speaking to members.
Proactive approach
“That relationship enables us to provide intelligence and information and ensure people are kept up to date. We’re seeing a more proactive approach from police and from farmers themselves to tackling rural crime – and this is making an impact.” Ms David said she also backed NFU calls for farmers and the public to report crimes after the Environment Agency’s National Waste Crime Survey found that only 12% of farmers and landowners report the most recent incidents.
“Waste crime is having a catastrophic impact on the environment and I know farmers who have been left with bills of tens of thousands of pounds of clear-up costs after rubbish was dumped on their land, which is completely unacceptable. I urge everyone to report incidents. We all have a role to play in tackling rural crime.”