Farm watch - fighting crime in the rural communities of the Ogmore Valley
Police in The Ogmore Valley are forging closer links with their rural communities.
Neighbourhood Officers have launched a Farm Watch - a partnership lead initiative - which will foster improved relations between the police and agricultural landowners and farmers to fight rural crime throughout the Ogmore Valley.
Farm Watch is aimed at improving the service provided to people living in rural communities and enhance the flow of information about crime and anti-social behaviour to the police.
Local Beat Manager PC Gemma Tibbott said: “We have been looking at ways of improving our engagement with rural communities in the Ogmore Valley.
“The key aim of Farm Watch is to stress the importance of vigilance and communication within rural and farming communities. We have developed this concept and I believe it will be of great benefit to both ourselves and our rural communities.
“The aims of Farm Watch are to reduce opportunities for crime to occur in farming and rural communities; strengthen community spirit, so that everyone works together to protect their property; improve communication between the farming community and the police; encourage people to report suspicious incidents as they occur and enhance information and intelligence sharing between partners.
“The services offered through Farm Watch include practical crime prevention advice to farmers and landowners, to help ensure their property and goods are as secure as possible. A property marking scheme to make it harder for thieves to dispose of stolen goods. A text alert service called ‘ringmaster’ and partnership working between the police, local farmers, the fire service, Forestry Commission, local scrap dealers and local council and environmental services.
Ogmore Valley Neighbourhood Police Community Support Officer Gemma Matthews added: “Farm Watch aims to minimise the opportunities for crime to occur in farming and rural communities. Paramount to this is encouraging people to report suspicious incidents to the police as they occur and sharing information with other Farm Watch members. The scheme not only assists in deterring crime but strengthens community spirit as together everyone achieves more.
“We encourage farmers or any members of the rural community living in the Ogmore Valley who feel they may benefit to attend the next Farm Watch meeting.”
The next Farm Watch Meeting will be held at the Ogmore Valley Life Centre, Aber Road, Ogmore Vale at 8pm on Wednesday 4th August 2010.