The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2019 - Issue 60 | Page 8

8 FARM NEWS DEC/JAN 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk RURAL CRIME AND ITS IMPACT ON THE FARMING COMMUNITY Dominic Snook, Insurance Adviser at Farmers & Mercantile Insurance Brokers (FMIB), discusses the impact Rural Crime is having on the Farming Community and suggests some key tips on how to protect your Farm and Business. RURAL Crime continues to be an exten- sive issue for Farmers, and those living and working, in rural Britain. The number of inci- dents relating to Rural Crime have majorly increased over the past 4 years, with 2018 set to be the worst year yet. There is no exact definition of Rural Crime but looking at it from an Insurance aspect claims usual arise from Livestock Worrying and Theft. As urban areas expand and more people move closer to the countryside the likeli- hood of incidents involving livestock and dogs is heightened. In June alone, FMIB had 5 incidents of Sheep Worrying reported, resulting in compensation being paid for 64 Ewes and Lambs. ‘ Not reporting incidents can create false figures that show crime is reducing. It is important all incidents are reported to give an accurate picture of the crime in the countryside ’ Insurance protection against Livestock Worrying is fairly inexpensive but has histori- cally been missed from Insurance covers. We also regularly come across Farmers that have insured against their Sheep but don’t have cover for the loss of financial income from their Lambs which are 3-4 times more likely to be effected by Worrying. It is vital for Farmers to have an annual review of their Insurance covers to make sure they are adequate and ac- tually covering you for your business needs. The countryside continues to be attrac- tive to thieves due to properties being often isolated and hard to protect. At FMIB we have a theft related claim every 3 days with Power Tools and Quad Bikes/ATVs being the most popular. Here are a few practical actions we recommend you take that may help to protect your business and assets; • Removing keys from vehicles – This may seem obvious but we still see a high number of Quad Bikes/ATV’s driven out of the farm yard as the keys have been left in the ignition. Also, un- der many insurance policies leaving the keys in a vehicle can actually invalidate your insurance! • Embrace modern technology – CCTV cameras and motion sensory lights have been taken to the next level and can now send notifications of move- ments to your mobile phone. Items such as these can provide 24 hour monitoring in your most vulnerable locations. Adding tracking devices and anti-theft sprays to your agricultural vehicles allows easier identification for the police and can help with finding stolen vehicles. • Locking Windows and Doors – Again obvious, but this needs to include your Agricultural Buildings as well as your House. Installing doors with built in locks are much more difficult to break than a padlock. • Store high risk items in Secure Shipping Containers – Heavy duty and theft proof Shipping Containers can provide safe storage for your theft attractive items such as Quad Bikes and Power Tools. It is important to always report incidents of Rural Crime to the police. Too often incidents are not reported as individuals do not want to be seen as wasting police time. Not reporting incidents can create false figures that show crime is reducing. It is important all incidents are reported to give an accurate picture of the crime in the countryside. If you are concerned about Rural Crime in your area or if your current Insurances are inadequate do not hesitate to contact us on 01604 782782 to discuss further or visit our website at www.fandmgroup.co.uk