Farmers taking part in a scheme that encourages them to mark their property with SmartWater have seen a ten per cent fall in crime over the course of just a year.
Farmwatch is bring credited with the cut in crime on Cumbrian farms and police believe thieves are deliberately avoiding members' properties, knowing that SmartWater marking makes selling stolen goods a more difficult and high risk affair.
Police in the county have recorded 148 offences involving farms and their outbuildings up to the end of June this year, which is down from 164 in the same period in 2009-2010.
Farmers joining the scheme display stickers to highlight their membership of the initiative, while applying uniquely-coded SmartWater forensic solution to their property.
The SmartWater marking, which is simple to apply and virtually impossible to remove, shows up under ultraviolet light, quickly indicating to police that the items they are checking may have been stolen. The unique forensic code enables the Police to find out the name and address of the legitimate owner. Most UK police forces are now equipped with ultraviolet lights with which to easily check for the presence of SmartWater.
Officers have been promoting Farmwatch to Cumbrian farmers for a number of years now and the growing number of members is having a demonstrable effect.
Andy Baines, safer and stronger community manager for Cumbra Constabulary, told the North West Evening News: “Criminals are actively looking for people who are not in Farmwatch. It's proved now to reduce the risk of being a victim. Those in Farmwatch have less chance of being a victim than those not on it.
“The criminal has become conscious of the Farmwatch movement and the risks associated. Marked property has very little value to them and the risks of being caught and prosecuted have increased.”
Farmwatch was launched in Norfolk in 1987 and has since spread to many areas of the country. Police in Cumbria are encouraging more farm businesses to sign-up to the initiative.