A text messaging service that alerts farmers of any suspicious activity in the Meirionnydd area is going from strength to strength.
Launched at the National Eisteddfod in Bala back in August, the scheme, which is supported by NFU Cymru, the Farmers’ Union of Wales, the Meirionnydd Community Safety Forum and Gwynedd Council, involves sending text messages to everyone who has joined the Farmwatch initiative.
“Our text messaging service has been a huge success,” said PC Dewi Wynne from the Meirionnydd Neighbourhood Policing Team.
“Since the launch back in the summer, the feedback we’ve received has been very positive. We have hundreds of Farmwatch members who have all signed up to receive a text message as soon as anything suspicious has been reported to police in the area.”
Developed with the assistance of 3Cubed Limited, the SMS alert text service works in a simple way. When a report of a suspicious incident is reported to the police i.e. an individual attempting to break in or a suspicious vehicle, officers consult their databases and send out a text message with basic warnings or alerts to their affiliated members.
The initiative is believed to be one the first to be used amongst the farming community. A similar scheme is already up and running with caravan owners in the same area.
PC Wynne said: “We’ve already had enquiries from other UK police forces who are interested in setting up a similar scheme.
“With assistance of the NFU, FUW and Gwynedd Council, we have also produced and distributed pamphlets, promoting the Farmwatch SMS alert text service, to people living in the Meirionnydd area.
“We are always looking for new members and if you are a resident in the Meirionnydd area and would like to become a member of Farmwatch, please contact myself at Dolgellau Police Station.”
If you would like further information with regards to crime prevention advice and home security contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101, or 0845 607 1001 (Welsh line) or 0845 607 1002 (English line).
