Chief Inspector Steve Ball and Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg fielded questions in Middleton-in-Teesdale following five thefts at farms near Forest-in-Teesdale.
Diane Spark, from Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services), pressed the pair after receiving notes from its members about their concerns.
Ms Spark said: “It just seems prolific at the moment. It’s mainly on moonlit nights – is it possible to have more police around?”
Mr Hogg said the crimes were being analysed.
“Police numbers are down from 1,510 to 1,140 – that’s a hell of a reduction for any organisation,” he added.
Mr Hogg also denied Special Constables were being used to replace losses in front line officers. And when asked about using cameras to catch thieves in the upper dale at junctions, Mr Hogg said ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras were being looked at after successes in Weardale.
However, he admitted cost was the biggest constraint.
“We could probably squeeze some money out but we cannot pay for everything,” said Mr Hogg.
Insp Ball confirmed the burglaries had taken place and CID units were investigating.
“I’ve spoke to Insp Kevin Tuck and it’s the first time we’ve had that concentration of crime in the upper dale in quite a few years,” he added.
“The question is how can we make sure we are policing those coming into the valley.
“We have invested in technology over the next valley and the councillors were excellent in Weardale in terms of financial support.”
Insp Ball also explained how a “balancing act” was required on Farm Watch operations between attracting volunteers and not over publicising operations to tip off crooks. Getting messages and information to farmers and isolated households was also a priority.
Mr Hogg added: “We have tried our best to maintain community policing.
“We work off ‘threat, risk and harm’ and rural crime is going on at a slower pace than the rest of the force so there is a real pull on resources.”
Ms Sparks said police responses had been “totally inadequate” at times with some officers getting lost on the way to jobs.
“It’s really important they know the area,” she added.
Both Insp Ball and Mr Hogg agreed it was important they received feedback so practices could be learned from and improved upon.
Insp Ball said: “It’s so important if you do not get the response you want – you let us know.”
Mr Hogg added: “From my point of view tell the police or tell me – if you do not tell, I cannot hold police to account.
“All too often I go to a meeting and people tell me ‘this happened six months ago’– it would have been better to tell me two or three days after it happened.”
Ms Spark also asked the pair whether outsiders were responsible for the majority
of rural crime in the upper dale.
Insp Ball said: “We do have local criminality and we do have organised criminality but we’re pretty good at disrupting groups.
“I would say most are within the county.
“We find that small stuff like bringing lurchers and poaching are linked to other types of criminal activity so we need to be on top of things like poaching.”
Ms Spark praised the “fantastic working relationship” the police has had with farmers in recent years but passed on a concern that efforts stopping motorists with trailers could be a “barrier to future relationships”.
She added: “A lot of farmers have been stopped – there is a feeling of targetting of the farmers so we need to work hard to avert that.”
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