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Kent Police has met up with the NFU and the CLA on the importance of working together with farmers and landowners to tackle rural crime.
NFU South East Regional Director William White said: “The Chief Constable has
listened to concerns from the rural community and, helped by Kent Police and
Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, the force has now been given the necessary
resources to deploy an additional six new rural police officers across the
county.
"Kent Police faces huge challenges in this large and densely populated county.
However, farmers and landowners recognise that they must take steps to protect
themselves from becoming victims of crime and work more closely with police.”
Drones
Farmer and landowner representatives of CLA and NFU together with young farmers
who joined the meeting at Saynden Farm, Staplehurst and police heard first hand
from host farmer Guy Eckley relating his experiences of rural crime, with a
group discussion of on-farm security and the use of drones.
CLA South East Regional Surveyor Tim Bamford said: “We appreciate that police
have a range of significant pressures, particularly in Kent where making
contingency Brexit plans is so important for rural businesses in the county and
beyond.
“But we want to ensure that tackling rural crime such as fly-tipping, hare
coursing and machinery theft remains a top priority, as it affects so many
landowners and farmers.
“Kent Police is a pro-active force and we look forward to continuing to work
closely together in the future.
“We would urge all victims of crime to report incidents and not let them go
unrecorded.”