The theft of agriculture plant and machinery has been a big issue across the UK, and local rural areas have suffered some significant loss due to this.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team would advise the following crime prevention actions:

• Consider fitting tracking devices on your agriculture and plant vehicles. You can also mark them using security or forensic markings. Check with your insurance provider as some will offer discounts once a tracker is fitted.
• Consider locking vehicles and plant in secure outbuildings or containers.
• Record vehicle and machinery serial numbers and take photographs for reference. If your plant is stolen a photo will increase publicity and possibly aid the recovery of your stolen property.
• Secure your vehicle (QUAD and ATVs) using suitable locking devices and fixed ground anchors secured to the floor using the correct gauge in security chains and padlocks.
• Protect your vehicles, trailers and plant by registering them on the Immobilise Property Register.
• Consider fitting a key safe so keys to vehicles are kept in a secure place.
• Remove all GPS from your machines when not in use and store in a secure place.
• Ensure all trailers are fitted with a good standard wheel clamp and hitch lock. Consider the use of a ground anchor also.

 
A number of items have been located over the past week and successfully returned to their owners.
Please remain vigilant and continue to report any suspicious activity.
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???? Rural Crime Update – Protecting Our Farms
Following last month’s focus on agricultural theft, we’ve continued to see reports of plant and machinery being targeted across rural areas. These crimes are often carried out by organised groups and can result in significant financial loss.
To help strengthen local resilience, we’re encouraging farmers and landowners to take proactive steps:
???? Enhanced Security Measures:

Install CCTV and motion-activated lighting around storage areas.
Use geofencing technology to alert you if machinery moves outside designated zones.
Join local WhatsApp or Farm Watch groups to share suspicious activity quickly.

????? Community Collaboration:

Report all suspicious activity to 101 or online via the police website.
Engage with your local Neighbourhood Policing Team for tailored advice.
Attend rural crime prevention events—we’ll be sharing dates soon.

 
Let’s keep working together to protect our rural communities.

Speeding continues to be a priority. Your local Neighbourhood officers and are regularly conducting high-visibility speeding checks throughout the villages around Frome. The aim is to deter speeding through the residential areas and to educate repeat offenders.

The Neighbourhood Team work closely with the Community SpeedWatch groups who conduct regular speeding checks in their community.

How SpeedWatch works

A Community SpeedWatch can be set up in any village, small town, or urban area, governed by either a 20, 30 or 40 miles per hour speed limit.

A team of local residents who are willing to volunteer a small amount of time each week are trained and issued with speed detection equipment to monitor speeds.

Vehicles observed speeding will be sent a warning letter along with advice to help change their driving behaviour.

Further action will be taken by the police against persistent and high end speed offenders as well as targeting individual locations.

Join Community SpeedWatch

To find out if there is a Community SpeedWatch Scheme in your area, or request to set one up, email [email protected].

???? Community Speed Watch – Get Involved!
Speeding continues to be a concern in many of our communities, and Community Speed Watch (CSW) is a fantastic way for local residents to take action.
???? Want to make a difference in your village?
We’ve already seen interest from several parishes, but we’re keen to get even more communities involved in this valuable initiative.
???? Find out more and register here:
???? Community Speed Watch Website  –https://communityspeedwatch.org/FRONT-v2-Register.php
On the CSW site, you’ll find everything you need to know about how the scheme works, how to join, and the positive impact it can have on road safety.
Let’s work together to keep our roads safer for everyone.