Midcheshire Independent Issue 171

FREE YOUR LOCAL GOOD NEWS-PAPER Follow us on Facebook: yourlocalinde ISSUE 172 • NOVEMBER 2024 YOUR LOCAL FREE MID CHESHIRE COVERING NANTWICH, NORTHWICH, WINSFORD, MIDDLEWICH, KNUTSFORD AND SURROUNDING AREAS SERIOUS organised crime is having a “devastating” impact on Cheshire’s rural communities. And the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Dan Price fears an alarming rise in thefts of GPS units from farm vehicles could be linked to the war in Ukraine. An open letter from him, urging equipment manufac- turers and the government to take action to reduce the number of thefts of the expensive and essential GPS devices, has been backed by five Cheshire MPs, includ- ing Mid-Cheshire’s Andrew Cooper . Mr Price and the MPs, together with the National Farmers Union (NFU), the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) and local farmers, came together to discuss and highlight the issue of serious organised crime and its impact on the agricul- tural community. They signed the letter that calls on agricultural equipment manufacturers to retrospectively add foren- sic marking on GPS devices, quad bikes, tractors and exca- vators to deter theft and aid with tracking stolen goods. The letter also asks the gov- ernment to ensure legislation is “fit for purpose” by revising the Equipment Theft (Pre- vention) Act 2023 to include modern immobilisation and forensic marking on all of the equipment mentioned. The meeting heard of the effects of serious organised crime on farming and the wider repercussions on the agricultural industry. In a statement following the signing of the letter, Mr Price said: “Farm equipment theft by organised crime has Farms in the frontline Organised crime target GPS units Target: Gangs are after sophisticated equipment (Photo credit: NFU) Action call: Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Data from NFU Mutual showed that in 2023 insur- ance claims for GPS theft rose by 137 per cent to an esti- mated £4.2million and there is real concern that this tech- nology can be reappropriated to be used in weapons. “Organised crime gangs frequently visit several farms in one night, often returning to the same farm to steal replaced devices.” While police have no direct evidence of the units being used by the Russian military, Mr Price told the BBC the rise in thefts since the war was a “deeply worrying coincidence”. GPS allows farmers to create farm maps with pre- cise acreage for field areas, road locations and distances between points of interest. It enables them to accurately navigate to specific locations in the field, year after year, to collect soil samples or monitor crop conditions. The theft of GPS devices, valued at up to £20,000, can cause financial hardship for farmers, not only due to the cost of the unit, but also the knock-on financial implica- tions that being without the device can cause. Mr Price, said: “Cheshire Constabulary has been work- ing hard to tackle rural crime with some fantastic results. But I know there is always more to be done. “I am confident, that by carrying on this good work and starting the ball rolling to make change happen here in Cheshire, we can reduce crime, ensure our ongoing food supply and protect the livelihoods of rural communi- ties, not only locally but across the UK.” NFU Cheshire county pres- ident Stuart Yarwood said: “Farmers across Cheshire are feeling the devastat- ing impact of GPS thefts on our livelihoods. The theft of essential equipment not only disrupts the work we do, but also poses significant finan- cial challenges. “It’s crucial that measures such as the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill are extended to provide greater protection for farmers, so we can better safeguard our farm busi- nesses and enable farmers to continue our vital role in food production.” Congleton MP Sarah Rus- sell added: “The perception of our Cheshire rolling fields as idyllic and crime-free, is sadly outdated. Crime in rural areas skyrocketed by nearly a third from 2011-2024.” Alongside local farmers, the NFU, NRCU and Dan Price, the MPs who signed the let- ter were; Andrew Cooper MP, Connor Naismith MP, Sarah Russell MP, Tim Roca MP and Aphra Brandreth MP. The Home Office said in a statement it was introduc- ing “tougher measures” to tackle rural crime including strengthened neighbourhood policing and “stronger laws” to prevent farm theft and fly tippers. It said: “New laws will also aim to prevent the theft and re-sale of high-value equip- ment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.” CHRISTMAS WINE AND DINE SPECIAL SEE PAGES 12-14