A new Land-Rover Defender will be parked on the Farmers' Union of Wales pavilion forecourt at next week's Royal Welsh Show (July 22-25) to draw attention to the North Wales Police Farm Watch Scheme and similar schemes operated by the other three Welsh police forces.
Farmers will be encouraged to sign up to the scheme which is aimed at preventing rural crime. They will be encouraged to join and be the eyes and the ears of the community to help drive down rural crime even further.
By asking farmers to sign up to Farm Watch, North Wales Police hope to create a network of local farms in the community to help prevent and detect crime and provide instant support and information about what is going on in the immediate area.
PCSO Michelle Williams, who works in the North Wales Police Community Safety Department, said: “Farm Watch is about local farmers and rural communities communicating with each other and with the police at the time they have concerns, and for the timely sharing of any suspicious activity or individuals in their area.
“Farmers often have a great deal of capital spread over a large expanse of land. Some stock and equipment is portable and can be relatively easy to steal.
"Whilst property can never be made totally secure, becoming a Farm Watch member will reduce the risk of becoming a victim of farm crime.”
All who sign up to Farm Watch will receive:
* Regular and practical crime prevention advice to ensure property is kept as secure as possible;
* An SMS text messaging service which will keep members updated with latest crime trends and any suspicious vehicles/activity in the area.
PCSO Williams will be on the FUW stand during the Royal Welsh Show to promote the Farm Watch initiative and other officers will also be in attendance at the Anglesey Agricultural Show (August 13 and 14) Denbigh & Flint Show (August 15) and Merioneth County Show (August 28).
Further information regarding the scheme, including details on how to join are available on the North Wales Police website: www.northwales.police.uk/advice_support?farm_watch.aspx
FUW president Emyr Jones said the union firmly supported the Farm Watch Scheme and the work of North Wales Police, who use a Land Rover Defender provided by Conwy Land Rover to promote the scheme, tied up with a new FUW members' benefit.
Earlier this year the union linked up with Conwy Land Rover to offer an exclusive discount for members which gives savings of up to five per cent on a Land Rover Defender above and beyond the discount customers personally negotiate with Conwy Land Rover.
To qualify customers need to have been an FUW member for a minimum of three months and would have to obtain a discount voucher beforehand from their local FUW county office.
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TEAMWORK: The Land Rover Defender that will promote the Farm Watch Scheme at the FUW pavilion[/caption]
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FARM WATCH LOGO[/caption]
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MEMBERS’ DISCOUNT: FUW president Emyr Jones (left) and Conwy Land Rover franchise manager Jason Ashley clinch the deal.[/caption]