Rural Crime Team Addressing Concerns Of The Farming Community

Following a recent spate of livestock thefts and equipment from the south Gwynedd area North Wales Police Rural Crime Team recently spoke with a number of local farmers to address their concerns. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Yesterday evening, Monday 13th February 2017, between 40 and 50 local farmers joined NFU and FUW representatives and PC Dewi Evans and PCSO Rhys Evans from the Rural Crime Team at the Ganolfan Golan near Garndolbenmaen in Gwynedd. The meeting was chaired by local Inspector Dewi Jones and those present had an opportunity to express their particular concerns and listen to how they were being addressed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PC Dewi Evans said ‘Yesterday evening was an excellent opportunity for us to hear the community’s concerns and frustrations as a whole and to address specifically how we are tackling the increased incidents of sheep theft. The theft of livestock can have a massive impact on farming communities and we are determined to do as much as we can to reduce the number of thefts and arrest and prosecute those responsible.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘We are advising that consideration is given to increased security around locks, gates and access routes and if anyone is uncertain about what they can do then to contact the Rural Crime Team and we can arrange a crime prevention survey. It’s equally important to remain constantly vigilant for any suspicious people or vehicles and any that are sighted then phone Police immediately.’ ‘In addition we’ll be making regular visits to livestock markets, abattoirs and other places of disposal. Colleagues on the local Response Teams and Safer Neighbourhood Teams will also increase High Vis patrols and the stopping and checking of any agricultural vehicles, regardless of the time of day and focus on reacting immediately to reports of suspicious vehicles or people in the area.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘However key to this all is Intelligence and the most fruitful source can often be the victims of crime themselves so we are asking if you have any snippet of information, no matter how insignificant you think it is then please contact Police.’ ‘However I would emphasise the importance of adequate security. We are all fortunate to live and work in a low crime area but this has come about through hard work with our partners and the local community. We need assistance to help prevent these incidents in the first place, identify who may be responsible and report suspicious activity immediately.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​