Cross-Border Campaign Launched To Tackle Farm Arsons
Written by HFM News on 19th August 2021
A cross-border campaign has been launched in a bid to stop arson attacks at farms during this harvest season.
Hay and straw stacks were set alight during a spate of incidents last September, including in Weston By Welland, Little Oxendon, Cranoe and West Langton.
Police and Fire and Rescue services in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire have teamed up to run Operation Clock, which will include providing crime prevention advice to farmers and a joint approach on investigation arsons.
The fires last year caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage and cost the fire and rescue services on average £150,000 to attend each incident.
Harriet Ranson from the National Farmers Union is welcoming the new initiative:
A fire in Cranoe last year
Sergeant Paul Archer from Leicestershire’s Rural Policing Team said: “Without hay, a farmer cannot feed their animals. Not only is it devastating to a farmer, it can also have very significant financial implications – a haystack can be worth more than £40,000 so it can have a huge impact on farmers.
“To set fire to something which has taken a year to grow and harvest is pointless and puts lives and livelihoods at risk. We need the community to come together and tell us what they know. If you see any people or vehicles acting suspiciously, please tell us.”
Sanjay Bulsara, Station Manager Fire Protection at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, added: “Not only do haystack fires cost farming businesses thousands of pounds, they also cause huge disruption to rural communities.
“What might look like a small fire has the potential to spread very easily and become major fires very quickly. These fires put our crews at risk and could also delay our ability to respond to another emergency.
“We will continue to work hard to prevent these incidents from taking place, and we encourage farming communities to take steps to protect their property from arson attacks.”
Anyone who witnesses any suspicious activity when out and about in farming and rural communities, around hay or straw stacks, is asked to call Northamptonshire or Leicestershire Police on 101, quoting Operation Clock.
More on the campaign HERE
