Local Community And Rural Arson Security Tips

RURAL ARSON

Rural businesses have many sensitive potential arson locations.

1 Hay and straw should be removed from fields as soon as possible after harvesting.

2 Hay and straw should be stored: - separately from other buildings, particularly those housing

fuels, agrochemicals and machinery - in stacks of reasonable size, spaced at least 10 metres

apart, separately from livestock housing

3 Petrol, diesel and other fuels should be stored in secure areas and storage tank outlets should be padlocked.

4 Fertilisers and pesticides should be kept under lock and key. The Health & Safety Executive can provide further advice on the storage and transportation of fertilisers, particularly

ammonium nitrate.

5 Refuse should be disposed of safely and on a regular basis.

LOCAL COMMUNITY

1 A strong sense of community still exits in rural locations. Join a ‘Rural’ or ‘Neighbourhood Watch Scheme’ to share information. Find out who the local Police contact is for your area.

2 If you have a suspicious caller at your business, record the vehicle registration number, descriptions of the persons and report this to the Police.

Check here for Rural Security and Equestrian Security tips and offers.

TRACTORS, AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY, AND TRAILERS SECURITY

Nothing should be stored or kept in a visible location, except when in use. When vehicles or plant of any sort are kept outside they should be kept locked and the keys kept in your possession or in a locked key cupboard.

PREPARE FOR A LOSS

1 All property must be uniquely marked, photographed and recorded in an asset register that includes serial, chassis and model numbers.

2 Use property marking solutions to uniquely mark all types of property, or Post Code your property in a non visible place and photograph it. Marking solutions: SmartWater -

www.smartwater.com; Selectamark - www.selectamark.co.uk; Identidot - www.identidot.com

5 If your property is high value fit a tracking device or a data tracking chip. Your insurance company, or a Police Crime Prevention Officer, will advise on its preferred product.

6 Register valuable plant; the National Plant and Equipment Register (www.ter-europe.org ) runs an international database of owned and stolen equipment. It employs specialist staff who

work with law enforcement agencies to identify and recover stolen equipment. You can register five items for free. Tractors and other agricultural machinery, trailers, caravans, quarry

equipment and generators are amongst the most stolen items.

Wiltshire police team launch initiative for rural areas

POLICE have launched a new website aimed at helping horse owners and equestrian enthusiasts to tackle equine and rural crime and help improve rural and equestrian security.
Wiltshire Horsewatch at www.wiltshirehorsewatch.co.uk is the equine version of Neighbourhood Watch.
The scheme’s aim is to help improve equine and property security by connecting horse owners and local people, and alerting them to any suspicious reported activity or crimes in progress by means of SMS text message or e-mail alerts.
Wiltshire Horsewatch also offers valuable crime prevention advice and a range of free services including tack marking and saddle stamping.
The Horsewatch scheme is part of a national approach to tackling equine related crime and it was first set up in this area in 2009 by Wiltshire Police’s dedicated Rural Crime Team (RCT).
Police Community Support Officer John Bordiss who works on the RCT said: “This scheme is about horse owners working in partnership with the police to help prevent and reduce equine, rural and agricultural crime. As part of the National Horsewatch Alliance, information of criminal or suspicious activity is recorded across the counties allowing a broad distribution of knowledge to be shared and acted upon.
“The theft of a horse or property is soul destroying. It’s not just the financial loss but ultimately the emotional distress caused. Wiltshire Horsewatch has seen some fantastic results over the past three years and it is superb to see so many new people signing up to the scheme and getting involved.”
Wiltshire Horsewatch is a non-profit making scheme and membership is free. It is open to individual horse owners, large professional competition and business yards, and all equestrian enthusiasts.
Members receive regular updates on county wide equine related thefts and suspicious incidents, and timely alerts via text message and e-mail about potential threats, plus advice on horse and yard security, and free tack marking sessions.
To sign up to the scheme, visit the website www.wiltshirehorsewatch.co.uk