Rural crime in Derwentside has been cut significantly following the introduction of a Farmwatch scheme.

Almost 300 farms in the district are benefiting from the scheme designed to keep rural property safe and secure. And big reductions in theft, criminal damage and robbery have resulted in more people signing up to the initiative.

Farmwatch-Derwentside helps to focus on effective ways of preventing and detecting crime in the rural areas. It encourages vigilance and communication, not only between individuals but also with local police officers.

It is one of many schemes part-funded by Derwentside Community Safety Partnership which aims to further reduce crime in the district by 15 per cent over the next three years.

The aims of Farmwatch are to:

• reduce opportunities for crime and vandalism
• strengthen community spirit so that everyone plays their part in protecting their property
• improve two-way communication between farmers and the police
• reduce the fear of crime.

Following the launch of Farmwatch in July 2004 there are now 274 farms across the district signed up to the scheme and recruitment continues to swell with more farms wanting to become involved.

So far the scheme's successes include:

• reduction in total theft of 11 per cent
• vehicle crime decreased by 12.5 per cent
• vehicle theft and TWOC down 19 per cent
• criminal damage to vehicles down 30 per cent
• robbery reduced by 17.5 per cent.

In addition Operation Idaho, an ongoing inter-force rural initiative including Durham, Cumbria and North Yorkshire continues to show benefits, which include high profile policing rural areas, crime prevention and collation of intelligence.

Information and intelligence gathered as a result of Idaho resulted in the recovery of a JCB digger and agricultural machinery, including a tractor, from two separate crimes with a total value of £50,000.

Brian Donkin, Farmwatch-Derwentside Co-ordinator for Durham Constabulary, said: "The scheme has paid real dividends in the last three years. Before it was implemented farmers would report incidents to the police but now they have a dedicated team to support them.

"Rural crime has been a problem in the past in Derwentside with incidents such as thefts of horse boxes and quad bikes. Now our intelligence gathering through Farmwatch has meant we are working smarter to prevent thefts and catch offenders.

"This includes using SmartWater to mark property and vehicles which leaves a unique DNA signature making items easier to recover."

For more information about joining Farmwatch contact Brian Donkin on 0191 375 2417 or 0776 8724991.

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