Together against crime

Rural crime is under the spotlight and Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty provincial president Rick Powdrell and Te Puke Police Sergeant Mark Holmes want to urge people to report every crime and suspicious activity. Photo / John Borren

Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty provincial president Rick Powdrell is spearheading a national campaign with police to stamp out rural crime.

The project, which is also supported by FMG Insurance, will be launched with a pilot seminar in Te Puke on Friday that will be rolled out around the country next year in a bid to reduce crime rates and raise awareness.

Mr Powdrell said it was important rural communities worked with police as a Federated Farmers survey revealed only 39 per cent of rural crime was reported.

Statistics from FMG showed the Bay of Plenty region was the third highest region for claims at 12 per cent - behind Waikato and Northland - in 2014 and it paid out more than $21 million nationally on burglary and theft claims.

Te Puke police said two thirds of burglaries in the area were committed in rural areas and it had combined forces with Papamoa police in August to provide 24-hour coverage.

A former victim of stock theft, Mr Powdrell said rural crime was a big problem.

Stock theft was estimated to cost the rural community $120 million in lost income annually.

Mr Powdrell attended a three-day rural police prevention conference at Porirua's Police College. It involved 50 rural police officers of varying ranks and an internal committee of eight was established to help with a strategy review.

A police and rural stakeholders partnership group was also established that Mr Powdrell would chair.

The latest initiative planned to use a collaborative approach and a rural crime prevention advice guide had been printed for farmers about what measures they could take to protect themselves, he said.

Te Puke Police Officer in Charge Mark Holmes said farmers were often targeted because they were perceived to be vulnerable and isolated.

Rural crime was often seasonal and at "this particular time of the year there is a focus on quad bikes and a lot of electric fence units and chainsaws," he said.

"The reason for that is it has been the cannabis planting season so criminals that grow their drugs see the farmers as easy pickings for supplies to carry out what they do."

He advised farmers to report anything suspicious as criminals were known to drive around during the day looking for opportunities, he said.

"If there are implement sheds close to the road that are left wide open then they can see a supermarket of what they need."

In the first instance people should dial 111 as Te Puke had combined its roster with the Papamoa police, which equated to a team of 15 officers, he said. This had made response times faster.

"We may not catch all the criminals but we can deter them because the risk of being caught is raised. No matter how small it is let us know as it may be a little piece in the puzzle to solve a major crime trend that is going on."

Taranaki Federated Farmers Rural Security Committee chairman Joe Menzies would also talk at the event about a project launched earlier this year when it teamed up with police representatives and rural stakeholders to formulate a consistent and sustainable national approach to rural crime prevention.

Rural Crime Prevention

Where: The Orchard, 20 Macloughlin Drive, Te Puke

When: Friday December 11 at 10.30am

Registration: Contact Rick Powdrell on 027 4894075