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A farmer on a quad with dog and sheep in fieldsGetty Images

Rural crime has been highlighted as a current issue

Police chief urges farmers to report crime

At a glance

  • The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police has urged farmers to report crime

  • She said the force will be investing more in its rural crime unit

  • Rural officers have been visiting farmers markets in Somerset offering a tagging service using DNA glue

A police chief has urged farmers to report rural crime as she promised more investment in rural policing.

The Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police Sarah Crew, said the theft of trailers is a major problem.

She said "with the war in eastern Europe and supply chain issues, it's a really really big issue".

Rural officers have been visiting farmers markets in Somerset offering a tagging service using DNA glue to help identify farmers' property.

Ms Crew said the rural crime unit is "highly specialised" which helps solve the most complex crimes and assists the wider force.

However, although there are plans to invest more in the unit she urged rural communities to help police to help them by reporting all crimes.

Officers from the rural affairs unit are attending farmers markets to help prevent rural crime

But one farmer told the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ a lot of farmers do not report crimes because it takes too long.

"It is a constant challenge for most people to get it reported. Then if its under-reported, the rural crime unit don't get the personnel they need so we're fighting a losing battle," he said.

Ms Crew said by reporting offences, "even if we don't solve that specific crime, once we know the patterns, we can deploy quite a lot of resources.

"[Then] we can see the pattern the offenders are using and we can use all of our resources and capabilities to tackle them," she added.

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