Industry bodies have teamed up with Police Scotland to launch a drive to reduce crime in rural areas.
It comes as NFU Mutual figures reveal crime is costing Scotland’s rural communities around £1.9million a year.
“This piece of work is a drive to reduce crime in rural communities by targeting offenders and enhancing crime prevention measures,” said chief superintendent Gavin Robertson, who is Police Scotland’s tactical lead for rural crime.
“Our message is clear – rural communities are not safe havens for criminals. We will target them wherever they operate and we will work with our partners to ensure that our communities take prevention measures to cut off opportunities for criminal gain.”
A steering group has been set up to co-ordinate the drive. Members include: Police Scotland, NFU Scotland, NFU Mutual, Scottish Land and Estates and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
The group will meet on June 30 to confirm an action plan, and thereafter each of Scotland’s 14 police divisions will set up a local group to deliver the scheme.
According to Mr Robertson, pilot groups in the Lothian and Borders and Lanarkshire police divisions have already been a success.
“Our prime motivation is to enhance preventative measures,” added Mr Robertson.
“The police cannot do this alone. This is about making the Scottish rural environment a difficult place to commit a crime.”
As the scheme was being rolled out, he urged any farmers or those living in the rural community to contact the police on 101 or their local NFU Scotland office if they wanted advice on crime prevention.
“And if members of the rural community are requiring to tell us information about their suspicions they can contact us on 1010 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111,” said Mr Robertson.
“Most communities have rural watch schemes and that would be another way for farmers to interact with the police and vice-versa.”
He also revealed that a pilot for a sheep worrying scheme in the Borders could soon be introduced in Kintore.