Uttlesford: Farmers given advanced DNA property protection kits

We’re supporting our farmers across the Uttlesford district by providing them with unique forensic property marking kits.

Uttlesford Community Policing Team has secured funding to offer DNA property marking kits free to all working farms across the district.

Sergeant Kev Mayle says 204 working farms were identified in Uttlesford during the Reach Our Rural Communities campaign launched by the Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership (CSP) three years ago.

He says:

“Farmers and landowners can feel isolated and we seek to provide them with reassurance and crime prevention advice, and support victims of crime while our partner agencies tackle other issues arising from loneliness and isolation.
“So we jumped at the chance to obtain the SelectaDNA kits for our farmers to protect their valuable machinery and equipment from thieves.
“We know the financial and psychological effects that such thefts can have and the huge disruption the loss of agricultural machinery and vehicles can have on rural farms and businesses.
“Each kit includes a solution, containing a unique DNA code, and an identity number which, together, make marked property easily traceable back to its owner.
“It’s fairly simple to prove the items have been stolen, so they become too hot to handle, which can be an effective deterrent to thieves. And the evidence is indisputable in court.”

Uttlesford CSP, which is funding the kits, is writing to every working farm identified in the district by the Reach Our Rural Communities campaign, inviting them to contact our community policing team and ask for a kit. Alternatively, farmers can book an appointment by emailing [email protected].

Kev says:

“We’ll hand-deliver the kits and show farmers how to use them. They can then mark their own property and put up the special signs which tell would-be thieves that the equipment and machinery on that farm is protected.
“I know it’s a busy time for farmers so they are welcome to contact us when it suits them and we’ll arrange a visit. Of course, that’s also a good opportunity for them to ask us questions and speak to us about local issues which matter to them.
“We want to hear what they have to tell us and the information they give us will help us to target our operational resources and identify emerging crime trends.”

 

Our rural engagement officers can also provide specialist crime prevention advice.

Visit our Rural Crime pages to find out how they can help you and your farming business.

And Uttlesford Community Policing Team hold regular property marking sessions for the public. Their next one is on Saturday 18 May 10am-2pm at Takeley Village Hall.

To find out when there’s a property marking session near you, follow Essex Police in Uttlesford on Facebook or you can sign up to Dispatch and get a weekly Essex Police update – including dates for your diary – emailed direct to your Inbox.