Farmwatch schemehelping to reducecrime in rural areas

Since it was first set up in the Horsham area in 2003, Farm Watch has spread out to the rest of the county and police say it is now a valuable resource in their fight against crime.

Sussex Farm Watch already has around 3,000 farmers registered who provide valuable support and assistance to officers who deal with rural crime.

The scheme includes a weekly bulletin which highlights any problem areas.

A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “Much of rural life is built upon trust within small communities.

“The impact of rural crime is greater in many ways because of the breach of that communal trust.”

Tackling rural crime is one of the areas highlighted in the newly published Sussex Police Plan.

The aims of Farm Watch are to reduce opportunities for crime to occur in farming and rural communities; improve communication between the farming community and the police and encourage people to report suspicious incidents.