A member of Tayside police force has been highly commended at the UK Country Crime Fighter Awards, judged by Countryfile’s Adam Henson and NFU Mutual Chairman Richard Percy.
Special Constable Richard Martin was runner up for the ‘Best Local Bobby’ category which rewards officers dedicated to fighting rural crime in their community.
Richard Martin polices over 50 farms across Angus and has worked on initiatives which have seen the area buck the trend on rural crime.
The NFU Mutual’s figures show that thefts cost the farming industry £52.7m in 2011.
Special Constable Martin said: “It’s great to be recognised for good work, but most of all I hope that we can inspire more people, both within the police force and among the public to think of new ways that we can work together to prevent crime in Britain’s countryside.”
While the farming community in Tayside seems to have benefited from close police liaison with the community, other areas of the UK have not been so lucky.
Farmers Weekly reported on Berkshire farmer Colin Rayner’s struggle against crime on his farm in the face of what he sees as a lack of support from the local police.
We want to know what your experience is of crime fighting on your farm – vote below.
For more on this topic
Video: Farmer’s 7ft fence to keep out crime
Check and report crime in your area on our Crime Register
Alison Konieczny on G+