What is Countryside Watch?
Countryside Watch (which also incorporates Farm Watch) is a partnership between the farming community, remote rural businesses and the police. It encourages communication and vigilance with other members of Countryside Watch and with the police.
Because of the remoteness of farm and rural businesses, and the relative distance to the nearest police station, criminals may consider such targets as ‘soft’. Farm equipment/vehicles is often stolen and taken apart for re-sale, or for the ever-growing scrap metal market. Farmers are also encouraged to join their local Neighbourhood Watch group, which is more concerned with residential crime in their area.
The aims of Countryside Watch
- Give the opportunity for members to alert each other when a suspicious incident takes place.
- Share crime reduction advice to reduce crime occurring in the first instance.
- Improving communication between the police and the countryside community.
- Strengthening a community spirit, so everyone can work together to reduce crime and protect their property.
Suspicious incidents
Sometimes people take days or even weeks to report crimes and sometimes suspicious incidents are not reported to the police at all. While any information is welcome, it is obviously far better to inform the police at the time of the incident. Any unusual happening, which raises the slightest seed of doubt in your mind, is a suspicious incident and worthy of reporting straight away. No one will accuse you of wasting time. You know the local people in your area, so others with no obvious reason for being there should make you curious. If further observation fails to remove your doubt, contact the police without delay. When we receive information on suspicious incidents, a message will go out via our Ringmaster system, to all the Countryside Watch members who signed up to receive them.
Communication (Ringmaster)
Our main method of communication is Bedfordshire Police's Ringmaster system. When an incident takes place that concerns members of Countryside Watch, a message is sent out via text message or email to all members registered with Ringmaster. The message will give a description of the incident and crime prevention advice. Anyone who has any information about the incident, is encouraged to make contact with the Police or Crime Stoppers. Farm Watch also organise meetings between their members.