Welcome to Beds Horsewatch, a group with concern for the safety & security of all equines i.e. horses ponies, donkeys & mules, and equine-related property. Please take the time to read about Beds Horsewatch and join the scheme by following the directions.

Beds Horsewatch is – a is a voluntary group of people from the equine community, supported by Bedfordshire Police, with the joint aim of reducing equine crime both in our own area, and nationally.

How?

• By providing information to enable you to protect your horses and property, and thereby lessen the chances of theft.
• By sending you details of recent crimes, suspicious incidents and sightings, in the county and further afield. These can alert you to specific problems, and enable you to take additional precautions.

Why?

• In return, we ask you to become more vigilant, to report anything that seems suspicious, to alert your horse-owning neighbours, and also to look around for stolen horses & property reported.

But there’s more

• You must ensure that all of your property has a clear, uniquely identifiable mark. This reduces the likelihood of it being stolen, and increases the chance of it being found and returned to you. Too much stolen property is unmarked, and therefore has to be returned to the thieves. Horses should be freezemarked, and all other property marked with your postcode.
• By taking greater care of your property and ensuring it is identifiable, the Police have more chance of finding and returning it to you, with a higher probability of obtaining a successful conviction.
• Once thieves realise they will have to work harder to take your property, and avoid being caught with it, they will move on to somewhere easier.

WHO CAN JOIN?

Anyone can join Horsewatch. Your personal details will be kept on the police data base: details of relevant crimes, suspicious incidents vehicles etc. will be circulated by phone email or fax.  They will often be from other county areas, as apparently thieves do travel over county boundaries, and from one end of the country to the other!  There will also be crime reduction initiatives, such as freezemarking and tack-stamping sessions, as well as useful advice regarding the steps which you can take to avoid becoming a victim of crime.

Horsewatch Contacts

Sarah Stevens - Bedfordshire Police Ringmaster        01234 275288

ringmaster@Bedfordshire.pnn.Police.uk

Rowena James - Beds Horsewatch Co-ordinator            077932 14028

rowena-james@supadooper.com