With the NFU Mutual reporting an increase in rural crime hitting yet another year high in the UK, securing your farm has never been so important.
Made up of sole traders and family partnerships, our rural and agricultural sector accounts for approximately 64% of the food we eat and according to the Office of National Statistics, the total number of agricultural workers in England alone, was 391,000 on the 1st June 2022.
Many farmers, run other sideline businesses, such as farm shops, B&Bs and other enterprises so any criminal activity has a real impact on lives.
Being able to secure the land is of obvious importance, with NFU reporting a rise of 22.1% in the cost of rural crime to an estimated £49.5m and 70% of NFU Mutual Agents saying they knew farmers who have been repeat victims of rural crime, with many feeling targeted and often vulnerable, in what is not just their workplace but also their family home.
The NFU survey reported the cost of agricultural vehicle claims rose by 29% to £11.7m in 2022, soaring second-hand markets and demand sent the cost of trailer thefts up 66% to 2.9m and fuel theft from farms and rural homes has doubled.
Traditional livestock theft rose by 8.7% to an estimated £2.7m and remains one of the costliest crimes to farming, as it can have a devasting impact on breeding lines and of course the welfare of the animals taken.
It is clear, that being able to stop or delay criminals is just one way to keep your goods, livestock and land secure, however this is not always easy. Which is why we offer a range of security barriers that give you options such as; Temporary Vertical Concrete Barriers (TVCB), Vehicle Security Barriers (VSB), Vehicle Containment Barriers (VCB), Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM), Tank Trap Pyramid Barriers (TTPB), Jersey Barriers, Security Blocks and for areas requiring something extra, our security planters provide the perfect combination of security and decoration available from stock.
This, along with security lighting and CCTV can help protect areas that can not rely on modern security methods, which count on internet connectivity.
Our precast blocks and barriers are made of precast concrete for a reason. The heavy-weight nature of the security products make it difficult for criminals to remove them, or drive through them, to destroy them, however normal farming machinery can easily be used to install or move the blocks to the desired location.