Farmers from across south Wiltshire have taken part in frank conversations with Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, and officers from Wiltshire Police at a specially convened “Barn Day” held by the National Farmers Union in Fovant last week.
The Police and Crime Commissioner heard about the issues facing the agricultural industry and was told of one farm which has reported twenty crimes so far this year, and spoke to another farmer who had lost around three hundred thousand pounds over the last two years as a result of criminal damage and rural crime.
Mr Wilkinson spoke about the importance of regional collaboration with other forces and how he would like to see the successful “Operation Ragwort” model for rural crime, where Wiltshire Police shares intelligence and resources with other forces in the south-west, expanded across the south of England, highlighting how a similar model was already working amongst police forces in the north.
He also talked about financial pressures facing Wiltshire Police and how, whilst this year’s budget shortfall of £6.8M could be met following this year’s Home Office funding allocation, it would be unsustainable if next year’s allocation once again failed to meet rising costs.
The Police and Crime Commissioner said, “Living in a rural part of Wiltshire, I regularly meet with our farming community and I’m well aware of the issues they face, not only in terms of rural crime, but with regards to a whole range of topics.
“Meeting them in a forum like this, where we could focus solely on policing and criminal justice gave me the opportunity to explain to them the work Wiltshire Police is doing to tackle rural crime and why it’s important for them to report incidents as and when they happen.
“Some of our discussions were robust, and I hope that the farmers have gone away with the confidence that I am fighting their corner and we are working hard in collaboration with our regional colleagues as well as our neighbours in Hampshire and Thames Valley, to protect the homes and livelihoods of our rural communities.”
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