Next Generation forum chair of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Eveey Hunter, has spoken out about the impacts of rural crime on farmers – and on her and her family in particular.
The start of 2022 saw rural crime incidents skyrocket according to rural insurer, NFU Mutual’s 2022 Rural Crime Report, with the cost of rural theft estimated at £40.5 million across the UK.
Hunter said her farm fell victim to this rural crimewave when thieves stole GPS components totalling £60,000 the day before her and her family were due to finish harvest.
“It’s scary. My brother said he felt like they were being watched that night,” she said.
“The next morning, he climbed up into the combine and said over the radio: ‘We won’t be doing any farming today.’ We didn’t know what he meant at first and then we saw the screens were gone.”
A ‘slap in the face’
“It’s just a slap in the face. The team are effectively running on coffee the whole harvest,” Hunter said.
“You’re out working late, then come back early in the morning to discover this and just think why do we bother?
“You’re just trying to produce food, and this is how you get repaid,” she said.
Hunter said that, since the theft, her farm has now been equipped with 360° video and motion-detection cameras as well as security gates that can only be opened by those with pre-authorised access.
She also uses CCTV and padlocks around her home for extra security and protection away from the farm.
“It cost us about £4,000 for the season, but we had those security systems for peace of mind,” she said.
“Farmers are going to struggle to put their hands into their pockets for that money over something that might stop thieves, but also might not.”
Protecting your property
NFU Mutual has resources available for how to protect farm properties and UK police forces are advising farmers to use overt marking on their equipment and remove units overnight where practicable.
Hunter is also urging other farmers to report their experiences as much as possible when they’ve been involved in a rural crime incident.
“Policing works on statistics. If you don’t report anything and don’t talk about it, they can’t put more resource behind it,” she said.
“You have to have a good relationship with your local police. We can help them as much as they can help us.
“It will be a small world within these criminal groups, and that’s why I’m determined to keep pushing it and talking about it as much as possible as they will get caught eventually.
“I’m known to shout quite loudly about things I’m passionate about. A lot of farmers have to deal with theft but don’t feel comfortable being interviewed or going on the news – but I will do that to get the message across and be a voice not just for the next generation, but for all farmers.”
