Securing rural sites against crime

According to NFU Mutual (National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society), the cost of rural crime increased by 4.3% year-on-year in 2023 to £52.8 million. While rural crime has been a problem for many years, a recent rise in organised criminals targeting high value equipment on farms has skyrocketed the impact of these incidents. GPS unit thefts alone were up 137%, high tech equipment which costs around £10,000 per unit.

Agricultural Security

Theft of farm equipment and machinery, livestock-related crimes, fly-tipping, poaching, equine crime and fuel theft also result in high rural crime figures with Bedfordshire alone rising by 106.9% from 2022.

Unfortunately when it comes to securing rural sites, traditional security measures such as digging earth banks and training protective animals are no longer sufficient at stopping these highly-organised and determined attacks. In addition, those who invest in perimeter security often commit the error of basing the system on a viewpoint that does not correlate with that of the potential intruder. All security should be planned from the outside looking in: taking in the site through the eyes of the potential perpetrator and considering where exactly they would be basing their assessment from. The saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ is particularly pertinent when considering the most appropriate location for any high-value items on farms.

Create Secure Areas

Most agricultural premises extend over an expansive area, making it virtually impossible to secure the entire farm. Security measures focused on specific areas within the farm are therefore recommended to create secure zones within the acreage.

Security starts with limiting the number of access points to a site, putting measures in place to control pedestrian and vehicular access. Site owners can create a heightened sense of security by keeping gates to secure areas locked, and installing automatic gates that present an imposing barrier to entry.

Be wary of redundant gateways as they offer an ideal escape route for intruders; if a gate is no longer in use, temporary earth bunding should be installed to restrict access.

Quality Fencing

Perimeter fencing for agricultural sites should be capable of withstanding the challenges of the outdoor environment. Ensure posts, pales and panels are well maintained and able to resist harsh weather, corrosion and rot. A fence line with any signs of damage or instability indicates a clear weakness in the overall farm security.

When installing a post and wire boundary, invest in posts that provide a long service life, consistent with the wire of choice. Farmers are encouraged to opt for galvanised steel wire mesh panels with a polyester powder coating, providing the strongest and most corrosion-resistant option on the market. A key component of mesh security fencing systems to focus on is the panel-to-post connectors. In rural scenarios, front-facing fixings are not suitable and U-shaped clips with tamper-proof fixings on the secure side of the fence should be prioritised. As seen in the video below, a simple tool can remove front-facing fixings and whole panels, to enable large items to be taken out.

When designing a security strategy for rural sites, implementing the 5 Ds of perimeter security offers an effective layered approach. There are different layers of perimeter protection, each with its own objective to prevent the advance of a potential intruder. The 5 Ds are: Deter, Detect, Deny, Delay and Defend.

Tested and certified security fencing is highly effective in protecting high value assets and sites. Our LPS 1175-certified EuroGuard® Combi A1 (SR1) is specifically designed and certified to protect against attempts at forced entry through the fence. The mesh fencing system combines wooden slats and steel mesh to break lines of sight and conceal valuable equipment, while its unique panel-to-post fixings are extremely tough to penetrate. It's an ideal choice for creating storage compounds for farm vehicles, tools and machinery safe from theft and vandalism.

Combat Fuel Theft

The rising price of oil and diesel has led to an upsurge in the number of fuel-related thefts from farms. On top of this, farmers also face the challenge of securing and storing potentially dangerous chemicals. A practical and relatively inexpensive route to protecting these items, which are almost always likely to be stored on farm premises, is to create a mesh storage compound. 

Our tested and certified fencing range is also accredited by Secured by Design (SBD), the UK police initiative committed to ‘designing out crime’ through physical security and processes. Our SBD-approved products are ideal for a range of security applications.

Issues Affecting Solar Farms

With the increase in the number of solar farms and the investment put into them also increasing substantially, they have become a prime target for theft and vandalism.