Farmers Welcome Strengthened Policing
Local East Sussex farmers confirm that their losses from theft, which were rising in recent years, have increased exponentially since the Covid-19 lockdown. Sheep farmer Frank Langrish believes that criminals have taken advantage of reduced police patrols at night.
He has counted over 20 quad bikes reported stolen in his area in the last three months. He says he was able to recover two of his own by means of fitted trackers, but most are earmarked, he thinks, for swift export, probably to Eastern Europe. Dogs, especially spaniels, are targeted for supply to puppy-breeding farms. Horse tack is another valuable at risk.
The criminals are often armed with sophisticated cutting equipment. In his case a padlock that cost over £100 was sliced through.
Launch of Rural Crime Team
Will the new Sussex police team make a difference? Mr Langrish is hopeful, describing the new Chief Constable Jo Shiner as “a breath of fresh air”. He is keen that the team should co-ordinate better with neighbouring forces. Kent police have generally been much stronger in the countryside, he says, whereas criminals have seen Sussex as “an easier place to nick things”.
Caroline Turner, whose partner Andrew Dunlop farms in Pett, says that they had over £200 worth of antibiotics stolen just before the lambing season. Local garden and allotment sheds have also been targeted. She recently set up a new neighbourhood watch scheme in Pett under which incidents of local rural, wildlife and heritage crime appearing on the Sussex Police Countrywatch scheme are reported and quickly shared among over 500 residents on social media.
She welcomes the setting up of the new police team: “I like to think my endless reporting of incidents, via 101, has helped the police to build a better picture of the crimes we face in rural areas”, she says. “In my experience the police really do want to help, so I hope people are not put off contacting them.
“They might not be able to disclose all the information about their investigations, and it’s worth noting they need to build up quite robust evidence these days in order to get prosecutions. Let’s help them, I say”.
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