Hants farmers encouraged to use app to report rural crime

Farmers and land managers in Hampshire are being urged to sign up to a new mobile phone-based app which shares intelligence on rural crime.

The Hampshire Rural Crime Partnership Disc system is a free service that allows users to report crimes, such as hare coursing, livestock worrying and fly-tipping.

Used by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, the platform enables people to report crime and suspicious activity easily. Other forces, including Sussex Police, have also adopted the Disc system.

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Rural police told the Hampshire NFU annual meeting in Winchester that they believe rural crime is being under-reported in the county.

Hampshire NFU adviser James FitzGerald, who is based in Petersfield, said: “Disc is an effective system that allows witnesses to add photos and relevant details, with all the information becoming rapidly available to police, far more quickly than reports made by phone.

“This system also issues alerts to those in rural communities about suspicious people and vehicles moving around the county.”

Mr FitzGerald said Hampshire Police has funding for this year for two analysts to look at patterns of rural crime, including incidents in rural areas.

He said it was vital every suspicious activity and crime, no matter how small, is logged to ensure that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has a true picture of crime so that it can allocate appropriate levels of resources.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) believes only 30% of rural crime is reported to police.

Hazel Wright, CLA Country Watch and licensing co-ordinator for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said: “Unreported incidents and crime do not get included in our statistics and data analysis.

“Therefore local rural policing teams and Country Watch could be missing out on vital funding to support and resource these areas of your community.”

To download and register for the Disc app to join the Hampshire Rural Crime Partnership, email discreports@hampshire.police.uk with your email address, contact number, location and occupation and ask for a link to the registration form.

Farmers can also sign up to Hampshire Alert free messaging service, which shares messages, cases studies and key advice. Hampshire Police also has an online 101 reporting system on its website.