North Yorkshire police candidate's concern at mental health costs of rural crime

As with many rural areas across the UK, rural crime is having a higher impact on farmer’s businesses, but also their mental health.

According to NFU Mutual, livestock theft across the country costs farmers over £2.4 million a year, whilst theft of quad bikes is estimated to cost £2.3m and other agricultural vehicle theft over £5m.

In 2017, there was a 13% increase in rural crime, with the total bill in excess of £44m. Almost 70% of farmers and rural businesses have experienced criminal acts within a 12-month period.

Mark Christie, the Liberal Democrat's PFCC candidate said: "These figures are shocking and depressing enough for farmers.

“It’s not just theft – there are a range of other crimes that affect farmers and other rural businesses, including the scourge of fly tipping, online scams and damage to property.

"As North Yorkshire PFCC I would ensure we consult widely with the farming community and other rural business owners to find the most effective ways of supporting their work and both preventing crime and improving detection rates and bringing perpetrators to book.”

The Lib Dem candidate, Mark Christie is proposing a number of potential solutions as part of a set of rural roadshows to assist farmers and businesses, including:

More visible policing of rural communities.

Raising awareness of the need to report crimes by rural people and the support they can access if a victim of crime.

Encouraging the fitting clamps and immobilisers to farm machinery.

Promoting the need for secure fencing and alarms on fuel tanks.

Security tagging expensive tools and storing them in more secure containers.

Being innovative in ways of reducing the chances of criminal gangs accessing properties, for example through use of earthworks along field boundaries to prevent 4x4 vehicle access by criminals, high yard fences and the use of ingested electronic boluses to trace livestock theft.

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The other candidates so in the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election, which will take place on Thursday, May 7, include Philip Allott (Conservative) and Keith Tordoff MBE (Independent).

Mr Allott visited local businesses, residents and farmers in Leyburn and Middleham recently to discuss rural crime and mental wellbeing.

The Tory candidate, who supports an increase of resources for the rural policing taskforce, was accompanied by Coun Karin Sedgwick and the pair also met with farmers at the local Leyburn auction to discuss local policing and fire issues.

In addition, Mr Allott spoke to the Rev Chris Lawton, who is the local chaplain to the auction about the high stress levels and isolation many farmers face.

Mr Allot, who said he fully supports extending Automatic Number Plate Recognition monitors in rural areas as many of the criminals are already known to the police, a wants more frequent joint operations with neighbouring police forces.

Mr Allott said: “I fully support the work of the rural policing taskforce and will if elected be pushing hard for more operations with neighbouring forces to target those who cross the border intent on theft.

"I am determined to protect our communities and to make sure that those who target the rural areas to commit theft and other illegal activities get arrested.”

The Lib Dem candidate, Mark Christie has pointed to a recent National Rural Crime Survey in 2018 that highlights how rural businesses and people feel isolated, ignored and living in fear due to the spike in rural crime.

He said: "Most of the crime in rural areas is not caused by local people, but by organised criminal gangs, that have started to move out of urban areas to target what they believe are softer and less protected rural targets."

Mark is also concerned about the impacts on rural business owners and their mental health. “Theft, burglaries, damage to property and livestock rustling cause immense stress to farmers and other people trying to make a living and contributing to our local and regional economy.

"We need to make sure anyone affected gets timely support and access to mental health services as soon as possible.

"The fear of being a victim of crime has a huge impact on people’s mental health, and in extreme cases has led to suicide. This cannot be allowed to continue unchecked”.

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