FARMERS and smallholders in Somerset are now able to borrow security equipment on loan from Avon and Somerset Constabulary as a short term solution to protect their property and livestock from criminals.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s Rural Crime Team has almost £8,000 worth of security items such as alarms and security cameras which can be loaned to farms and smallholdings whilst there is a higher risk of livestock or equipment theft and other crime, or as a demonstrator before making a decision to buy privately.

The kit boxes were distributed to expert rural crime officers and PCSOs from across the force area at a briefing day, held at a farm owned by Somerset NFU chairman Nick Bragg in South Petherton.

The 50 local rural crime contacts were given more detailed training and briefed about the continued rollout across the force of the Farmwatch scheme.

This comes on the eve of the launch of Operation Hamper in Avon and Somerset which is aimed at preventing pre- Christmas rural crime such as theft of fuel oil, livestock and high-value seasonal food, as well as domestic burglaries.

Supt Ian Wylie, who has responsibility for rural crime, said: “The extensive rural areas of Avon and Somerset are a pleasure for us to police but we are under no illusions about the challenge of preventing and detecting crime here, which is why we take this element of our work so seriously.

“Today’s training is about creating a network of experts across the organisation which will support our ambition to build a much higher degree of capability in relation to rural crime issues and enhance the consistent quality of service to victims.”