RURAL crime in Derwentside has been cut significantly following the introduction of a Farmwatch scheme.

Almost 300 farms in the district are benefiting from the initiative, designed to keep rural property safe and secure.

There have been big reductions in theft, criminal damage and robbery as a result of more people signing up.

Farmwatch-Derwentside focuses on effective ways of preventing and detecting crime in rural areas.

It encourages vigilance and communication between individuals and police officers.

Since the launch of Farmwatch in July last year, there are now 274 farms across the district signed up to the scheme and recruitment continues to swell.

There has been a reduction in total theft of 11 per cent, vehicle crime has decreased by 12.5 per cent, vehicle theft is down 19 per cent, criminal damage to vehicles is down 30 per cent and robbery reduced by 17.5 per cent.

Brian Donkin, Farmwatch-Derwentside co-ordinator for Durham Constabulary, said: "The scheme has paid real dividends. Before it was implemented, farmers would report incidents to the police, but now they have a dedicated team to support them.

"Rural crime has been a problem in the past in Derwentside, with incidents such as thefts of horse boxes and quad bikes.

"Now our intelligence gathering through Farmwatch has meant we are working smarter to prevent thefts and catch offenders."

Operation Idaho, an ongoing inter-force rural initiative, including Durham, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, with high-profile policing of rural areas, crime prevention and collation of intelligence continuing to show benefits.

Information and intelligence gathered as a result of Idaho helped in the recovery of a JCB digger and agricultural machinery, including a tractor, from two incidents with a total value of £50,000.

For more information about Farmwatch, call Brian Donkin on 0191-375 2417 or 0776 8724991.