Rural crime is increasingly affecting Lincolns’ farming communities.
Recent figures have revealed the theft of farm machinery, oil, metal and even livestock has increased, costing the industry between £50 and £70 million pounds per year. A rise of 17 per cent since 2009.
Local Farmer Carl Sutcliffe is no exception to this and says he has ‘experienced no end of problems’. His property, Grange Farm, has seen a significant rise in crime since he started 10 years ago and now says he experiences theft every six months:
“We get eggs stolen, we get cash stolen, we get anything that is metal stolen, all sorts of odds and sods.”
The Association of Chief Police Officers are holding the first ever rural crime seminar, in a hope to prevent a future rise. Lincolnshire County Police will be represented by Chief Constable Richard Crompton at the conference, which also aims to provide a greater understanding between the police and farmers.
Lincolnshire Police hopes local farming communities will see the benefits of today’s event in up and coming prevention schemes.
Ella Meadowcroft went to see how theft is affecting Grange Farm.