Write a commentConcentrating on Rural and Agricultural crime Police in Newry are hosting a Farm Watch and trailer marking event in early March.
Members of the rural community are invited to attend 31 Ardaragh Road (close to the Ardaragh/Curley Road Crossroads) between 10am and 2pm on Thursday, 6 March. Those attending are invited to bring along their trailers which will be marked by Newry Neighbourhood Policing Team so that they are more identifiable and easily recognised.
Trailer marking involves a unique ID mark, consisting of a series of letters and numbers, being painted on a trailer in an easily visible area using specialist paint and stencils. The trailer owner’s details and ID mark are recorded and held on a PSNI database which can then be checked if a trailer is seen on the road or in a location at a time that’s unusual. Trailer marking is just one strand of the PSNI's Farmwatch initiative which has been developed to help farmer's protect and secure their property and homes.
The aim of Farm Watch is to promote the importance of being vigilant and the need for improved communication- both in rural and farming communities and between rural communities and the PSNI.
The scheme includes :
Specific farm watch roadside/property signage to advertise the scheme is in place
Signage for placing on farm machinery linked to Farmwatch stating a warning that the property is uniquely mmarked.
Property marking scheme provided by the local NPT
Practical crime prevention advice to farmers and landowners to help ensure their property and goods are as secure as possible
An e mail and text alert service from police
All of this is free to members of the the rural and agricultural community.
Constable Gracey, Newry Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "We have been focusing on rural crime during February and want to take every opportunity to meet with members of the rural and agricultural crime and find more ways to support them and provide them with information about steps they can take to protect their property and livestock.
"Farmwatch allows us to share information with the right people at the right time and events like this give us the opportunity to meet the local community and gain a better understanding of local concerns and issues.
"Farmwatch can only be of benefit to all residents in rural and agricultural areas and I would encourage anyone who is interested in joining the scheme or having their trailers marked to come along to Ardaragh Road on Thursday, 6 March.
"By working together we can ensure a stronger approach to tackling crime and addressing local concerns."
