Within 10 seconds of a crime being confirmed at a farm in Conwy up to 100 in the farming community will have been put on alert.

The North Wales Police Farm Watch scheme which aims to fight rural crime has been made possible by two companies who serve farming communities.

Ifor Williams Trailers and Conwy Land Rover are donating the use of a vehicle and trailer to promote the campaign and cash towards it running costs in the first year.

The money will help towards administration and sending out alert text messages when crimes have been confirmed.

Libby Lee, Citizen Focus Manager for North Wales Police in Central Division, praised the two companies:

She said: "In times of cut backs when the public sector will find it difficult to afford such initiatives, it’s essential we get support like this from private companies.

"This scheme is aimed at crime prevention, which is so important."

Farm Watch works with local community councils and partners such as Conwy Land Rover, Ifor Williams Trailers and Trading Standards.

Andrew Reece-Jones, the Design Engineering Manager at Ifor Williams Trailers, believes the idea is a winner.

He said: "We were delighted to be given the opportunity to support the Farm Watch scheme.

"We have had fantastic support from our loyal customers over many years and in ret

urn we feel it is vitally important to support the rural community.

"This is an innovative idea which can deliver real benefits to people who simply want to protect their property."

Roger Carroll, the General Manager of Conwy Land Rover, was equally enthusiastic. He said: "We have very strong links with the farming community by virtue of the products we sell - like the trailers, Land Rovers are part and parcel of rural life.

"The rural community supports us in business so it’s important that we support them."

People in rural areas will be asked to relay descriptions of anyone suspicious, or suspicious vehicles so that they can be circulated to auctions, NFU offices and farm supply shops and updated regularly.

The Land Rover and the trailer from Ifor Williams Trailers will be taken to shows and livestock auctions over the summer to promote the scheme.

The trailer will be supplied with a lock and wheel clamp and information on registration of second hand trailers.

Padog farmer Eryl P Roberts said: "We need an arrangement that enables the rural community and the police to work closely together to battle against and deter thieves and crooks.

"What is required is a system that enables quick and effective response between the police and rural occupants to facilitate the transfer of intelligence."

Farm Watch Manager Tomos Hughes, from Cerrigydrudion, works for Scottish Power full-time and also assists the community as a First Responder for the Welsh Ambulance Service.

He said: "Working in partnership to develop Farm Watch has proved invaluable and I will assist the police to build up the trust and confidence within the community."

Sixty farms within Conwy have already enrolled and more than 100 people have signed up to receive text alerts.

Tomos hopes the scheme will "grow and grow" and spread to other areas of North Wales.

All farmers are encouraged to have a sign outside their entrance and pass on their contact details to the police.

Tomos’ family home is a farm in Ysbyty Ifan where his parents still live and he has excellent knowledge of the farming community.

Police pass alerts or requests for information in the form of a text message. This allows the Farm Watch team to send alerts to mobile or land line numbers within 10 seconds to a large area.

This will give the rural residents and farming communities the vital intelligence they need to help protect them from crime occurring, developing trust, confidence and reassurance.

Michelle Williams, the Police Community Support Officer who has been managing and directing the scheme, applied for £300 match funding from the Police and Community Trust fund (PACT) that has been agreed by the trustees and released into the Farm Watch Scheme.

She said: "Farm Watch is very important and will give the local police a tool to develop trust and confidence and above all improve communication between the farming community and the police."

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News » New text alert scheme combats rural crime