Plea for rural special constables

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_west/6070804.stm

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Members of the farming community in north Wales are being urged to become special constables to help tackle rising rural crime.

Alwyn Jones, of Meirionnydd Farm Watch, said increased theft from farms made it important to have someone from the community involved in policing.

He said farmers would be able to provide the police with specialist knowledge.

North Wales Police said co-operation was key to cutting crime.

Farmer Euros Roberts, of Llanuwchllyn near Bala, said the experience of having a quad bike stolen from his property had been very disturbing.

"I'd gone into the village to play football on a Saturday afternoon and left the bike on the yard.

It's very worrying that someone had been watching the comings and goings here Euros Roberts, farmer

"It was gone by the next morning and we think it was stolen during the time I was away," he said.

The thieves did not use the main route to the remote farm and Mr Roberts said they must have watched the place before the theft.

"It's very worrying that someone had been watching the comings and goings here," he said.

Mr Jones said a special constable would provide the police with specialist knowledge.

"The special constable could travel around with the police officer and then if they stopped a trailer load of animals for instance, the farmer could recognised their ear tags," he said.

"I feel that something must be done because it may be getting safer in cities but its not getting safer in rural Wales," he added.

Police farm community officer Deian Roberts said: "We need volunteers to work with us. Co-operation is the way ahead".