The call follows fractious events in the Vale of Glamorgan in recent weeks, which have seen farmers receiving an increasing number of threats of physical violence, shooting and arson when asking trespassing hare coursers to leave their property.
Such has been the level of concern that NFU Cymru has held two meetings with South Wales Police in the space of seven days, where farming members relayed their harrowing experiences. Many have said that they no longer feel safe in their own homes.
'Feeling unsafe in their own homes'
This further escalation has prompted NFU Cymru to write to the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools to provide ‘reassurance and urgent support’ for farmers blighted by this criminal activity. The letter states many farmers in the area ‘feel unsafe in their own homes and are frightened for their personal safety, their families, their property and their livestock’.
NFU Cymru says this heightened threat is a ‘compelling case’ for South Wales Police to introduce a dedicated rural crime team to address the violent behaviour of hare coursers, as well as other criminal activity including tool and machinery thefts, dog attacks, fly-tipping and livestock thefts.
Rural crime team needed
South Wales Police is currently the only service area in Wales without a rural crime team whose primary focus is on incidents of criminal activity targeting farming businesses and rural communities.
NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader said: “It is not uncommon for farmers in the Vale of Glamorgan to experience damage to crops, damaged fences and gateways caused by hare coursing on their land. However, in the last few months what we have noticed is that those coming onto our farms are becoming more brazen, confrontational and aggressive.
Threats
They will not leave when challenged and, moreover, will threaten anyone trying to interrupt their activities. It is the first time I can remember so many incidents of farmers being subjected to such a high level of intimidation and violence simply for confronting people conducting illegal activity on private land.”
In recent months NFU Cymru has been working closely with Welsh Government Wildlife and Rural Crime Co-ordinator Rob Taylor – who was responsible for the implementation of the UK’s first rural crime team at North Wales Police in 2013 – to seek additional guidance in prevention and tackling rural crime issues in the area. The union also continues to engage with South Wales Police officers.
Living in fear
NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader added: “It has become clear from our most recent meetings with South Wales Police that the local service isn’t equipped to tackle the volume and severity of the issues our members are experiencing, alongside their day-to-day policing duties. We believe the substantial threats to our farmers – many of whom are now living in fear - provides compelling evidence that South Wales Police needs a rural crime team. We are once again asking the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner to commit to following the lead of Wales’ other police service areas in establishing a dedicated rural crime unit.
"These officers should be trained and equipped to tackle the nuanced challenges facing our farmers and those living in isolated rural communities. It should not be the case that our members do not have access to the level of service, timely response and reassurance they should be able to expect, simply because of where their farms are located.
“It was also established during the most recent meeting that while incident reports of hare coursing in the Vale of Glamorgan have risen significantly compared to the previous 12 months, the data of reports received from the farming community still doesn’t accurately reflect the true scale of the problem our members are facing. For this reason, it is vital that farmers report any incidents of crime to the police on 101, or call 999 in instances where someone is in immediate danger.”