Poaching and machinery theft "crippling" rural Gloucestershire
PCC Chris Nelson held a rural crime meeting in Northleach last night
Last updated 28th Jun 2023
Gloucestershire farmers say they're unable to work after being crippled by poaching and machinery theft.
At a rural crime meeting in Northleach, Gloucestershire, Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson heard a spate of machinery robbery was taking its toll on Cotswolds farmers.
During the the meeting, the panel was criticised for not addressing machinery theft and focusing too much on wildlife crime.
Making the committee aware of the issue, Cotswold Farmer, Brain Brazingston, told the meeting how him and his fellow farmers "can't go to work" after an up rise in machinery theft.
He added, "We are seeing a tremendous rise across the estates and farming area, from big lumps of metal tractors, down to the smaller everyday man's worker's tools going.
"It's becoming a common joke amongst us all of who is going to be done tonight."
"Every time I come home, and I'm out all day working, it is a relief to see that I haven't been done."
Dave Harris is the Head Gamekeeper at the Williamstrip Park Estate in Cirencester, he says the spate of robbery's have come at the "wrong time of the year.
"We are under pressure at the moment with something we can't control, bird flu.
"It's not a good place at the moment, the countryside, it is just something we do not need.
"No one can help us with the weather, but the police can help us with rural crime."
Responding to criticism after the meeting, PCC Chris Nelson told us he was doubling the amount of officers within their rural team, from 4 to 8.
He said he will be talking to Chief Constable Rod Hansen "about the theft of farm vehicles.
"We talked a lot about poaching, and wildlife crime, but we need to talk a bit more about the theft of vehicles which has had a major impact on farmers."