The Farmers Mart Feb-Mar 2018 - Issue 55 | Page 5

FARM NEWS 5 • FEB/MAR 2018 POLICE, CPS AND NFU JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT HARE COURSING Thirty-one police forces, representing over 90% of forces facing issues with hare coursing in England and Wales, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) join the NFU as efforts are ramped up to rid the countryside of hare coursing. The NFU stressed the need for a dedicated rural police team in steadily in recent years. Cambridge- each force to better tackle rural shire, one of the worst counties crime. It is also calling for the affected, reported nearly a 40 per Government to form a cross-de- cent rise in reported incidents from partmental rural crime task force 1184 cases in 2016 to 1634 in 2017. to address the failures in dealing with rural crime. Representatives from the police The NFU is and CPS were told how hare hearing from coursing, which some police forc- es have linked to organised crime, farmers that there sees farmers facing threatening have been dramatic behaviour, violence and intimida- tion. increases in all The NFU has found that this rural 69945 crime threatening behaviour has led - BelmontRegencyLtd - HALF.pdf 1 23/01/2018 10:55:13 ‘ there needs to THE illegal activity has increased be robust action against hare courses to end this blight on our countryside ’ ‘ ’ to a culture of underreporting to police, meaning the true scale of hare coursing on rural areas may not be known. NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said: “The NFU is hearing from farmers that there have been dramatic increases in all rural crime, but hare coursing in par- ticular is causing incredible cost and damage to farm businesses. “It is critical for farm businesses that there is consistency in both policing and sentencing and the NFU will continue to push for this as the path forward. “There needs to be robust ac- tion against hare coursers to end this blight on our countryside and ensure that farmers do not contin- ue to be targeted by criminals.” FARM Sample Comprehensive Premiums from: Pickups, vans and lorries can be added to fleet policies If you want us to search for the most competitive rates, contact us for a quotation – Hundreds of Farmers have benefited from savings. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Value: £7,000 On Fleet: £122.52 Value: £15,000 On Fleet: £231.18 Trailers and implements included cover @BelmontRegency from: £175.00 Comprehensive FINANCIAL ADVICE Our advisers can provide advice on all the services shown below Leek Farmer reduced premiums from £1,357 to £941 Chester Farmer reduced premiums from £5,100 to £3,812 Address: Victoria House, 24-28 St Peter’s Churchyard, Derby, Derbyshire DE1 1NN ::   MOTOR : : TRACTORS TRACTOR & FARM INSURANCE T H E FA R M E R ’ S I N S U R A N C E B R O K E R Since 1982 t: (01332) 362367 e: [email protected] www.belmontregency.com Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority @BelmontRegency