Farmyard security is becoming all the more relevant against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and increasing levels of rural crime. The valuable livestock, indispensable vehicles and expensive machinery on your premises can make you a target for both organised and petty criminals, especially as the remote location of such sites means these lawbreakers view them as easy pickings.
Fortunately, it’s not all doom and gloom. Despite the growing complexity of the crime impacting rural communities, there are a multitude of ways to improve security, protect your farm and deter unwanted intrusions to your livelihood.
As professionals in the traditional security sector, we’re here to help answer any questions you may have by outlining 5 of the most effective deterrents to the most common threats facing the agricultural industry.
Understanding potential threats
Whether you are seeking solutions due to past incidents, or you simply want to reinforce your existing security measures, getting a good grasp on all possible scenarios will help bolster your defences by allowing you to draw up a more comprehensive security plan. Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
With that in mind, here are a handful of the most common threats.
Equipment theft and livestock rustling
The agricultural industry is no stranger to criminal activity, so it might not surprise you that in 2022 the cost of UK rural crime was chalked up by The National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) at £49.5m, which constituted an increase of 22% from the previous year.
According to the Rural Crime Report that shared these findings, the types of incidents reported are becoming more and more sophisticated. Vehicle, livestock and machinery theft are no longer minor or opportunistic as per the common preconception; instead, they form part of wider operations by organised gangs of criminals who have tools such as drones at their disposal.
Whether quad bikes, GPS units, livestock or other equipment, these expensive pieces of kit are all at risk, making their proper protection and storage paramount for farmers.
Vandalism and arson
Farm vandalism is a threat that sadly causes a lot of financial and emotional distress for those involved. Not only are business operations halted and equipment damaged, but it can seriously knock an individual’s sense of safety and confidence.
Fly tipping
Another risk posed by criminal gangs relates to the illegal fly-tipping of tons of waste on agricultural land, from fields to farmyards. While reports of fly-tipping incidents have, in fact, decreased over time, they do remain ever-present. With the health and safety of farm animals and workers at risk from potentially toxic materials, it’s always worth putting in the effort to deter the perpetrators of such behaviour.
Antisocial behaviour
We’ve covered some of the most obvious instances of anti-social behaviour, including fly-tipping and vandalism, but there are plenty of others to consider. Under the umbrella of trespassing offences, illegal trail and quad bike riding through grazing land can cause serious harm to young animals and their protective mothers. Inappropriate and dangerous parking can also put a spanner in the works of farmers’ busy schedules as they find their vehicles blocked into their farmyard or access prevented on important roads.
Animal welfare activists
Finally, there’s the threat posed by various activist groups, whether animal welfare-related or linked to public access movements. However well-intentioned such individuals may be, trespass is still a crime and their being on your land may endanger their own safety along with the safety of your livestock.
In today’s day and age, the operations of these activist networks are more sophisticated than ever, meaning an awareness of the possibility of trespass for the means of demonstration or undercover filming should play a role in your operations.
Prevention is better than cure
In all of the above instances, it can feel overwhelming to know that there’s no stopping them at the source. This is particularly demoralising when we look at the statistics that demonstrate that 28% of rural crime victims fail to report their experiences to the police.
With few repercussions for criminals operating in rural locations and a lack of support from the authorities, many farmers have decided to take farmyard security into their own hands. Often, this has come in the form of the deterrents that we dissect below – namely, a mixture of traditional manned guarding services, security dogs and mobile CCTV units.
11 effective farmyard security deterrents
Delivering farmyard security in a changing world means finding tailored, scalable solutions that work in your specific context. In order to find the right ones, it’s a good idea to do your research into the various deterrents available. Thanks to the expertise of X9 Security, you can start right here.
1) Security dog presence
If there’s any deterrent that stops would-be criminals in their tracks, it’s the presence of a professionally trained security dog. This option proves to be perennially popular among farmers because they provide a physical presence on-site that, should any security breach arise, responds on command to identify the whereabouts of trespassers. Pair the dogs’ fear-instilling appearance with their acute senses, and you have a versatile, rapid response and powerful preventative measure rolled into one.
If you decide to invest in this option, you will need to think about the logistics in detail. Who will be training and handling them? If you’re the owner of said dogs you are legally responsible for them, meaning that if they cause harm Civil Action can be taken against you. This calls for specialist liability insurance. Then there are the matters of vet bills, feeding and housing the animals.
Sounds like a lot of steps? Then perhaps the services of a specialist dog unit would serve you better. Here you get all of the above aspects eliminated as they form part of the service.
2) Stationed security guards
In the security industry, there are many aliases for this service; manned security guards or static guarding are two of the most widely used. For the uninformed, stationed security guards are SIA-licenced professionals trained to monitor or secure designated areas as per their client’s instructions.
Usually, this will encompass locations that are in nature high-traffic, remote or located in crime hotspots. Due to the vulnerability of farmyards, barns, sheds etc., agricultural sites are often where static security guards find themselves deployed. The duty of these guards is to protect people, property and assets against the threats discussed earlier, and will possess specialist training in diffusing pressured altercations.
One of the key advantages of hiring these security guards is that, unlike smart systems, they can adapt to the needs of a situation as it develops. If anything, the recent CrowdStrike fiasco has cast a long shadow on the digital security world, perhaps suggesting that there’s nothing that can completely replace the human touch.
3) Mobile patrol units
To further protect your farmyard and the equipment it houses, you may wish to consider the aid of a mobile patrol unit that can support your endeavours to reinforce its perimeters. We advise seeking the support of a specialist provider who can offer guards with a wealth of experience reacting to different situations and conducting robust and regular patrols to spot, remove and deter trespassers efficiently and non-violently.
For optimal coverage, it’s worth noting that the combination of mobile guards along with the latest surveillance technology can be particularly effective. The savvy farm owner may also consider spreading the costs between neighbouring farms by coordinating with these landowners to cover a wider area with said security solutions.
4) Visible CCTV towers
CCTV towers and an obvious and effective deterrent to organised crime gangs and petty thieves alike. With night-vision capabilities, powerful lenses and the ability to be moved around to the optimal position, these handy devices are ideal for keeping a range of threats at bay. As there are so many CCTV camera models available, we suggest dedicating a good amount of time to exploring your options.
5) Smart security
Smart security systems have come on in leaps and bounds over the last decade – to the point that they’re practically unrecognisable. From the protection of storage facilities holding crops, fertilisers and fuels to safeguarding perimeters, buildings, workers and livestock, there is a vast pool of technologies that have been developed with the concerns of farmers at the centre. While costly compared to the price of traditional security guards, they have the potential to transform your operations with real-time data monitoring.
6) Put up clear signage
This small change can have a bigger impact than you expect. By simply adding clear signage to indicate where the public cannot go, you can deter a whole range of accidental and intentional trespass incidents. This is particularly true if your farmyard is parallel to or intersecting public rights of way.
7) Install additional security lighting
Dimly lit remote areas are key targets for all sorts of criminals. Thus, implementing security lighting can deter criminals and create the illusion that the space is currently occupied.
8) Upgrade your lock systems
Another way to protect your farm is to secure each of the entry points, and the best way to do this is to invest in high-quality locks that can withstand picking and a good degree of force. Make sure that the lock falls under the right category and that it is insurable, so that in the event of an incident, you remain covered.
9) Reinforce your property with robust fencing
As well as upgrading locks, you should upgrade fencing if it’s worse for wear – i.e., so dilapidated that it can be broken down or squeezed through. Effective options here are palisade or mesh security fencing as they prevent unwanted intruders from scaling them.
10) Secure all entry points at all times
This may seem obvious, but if missed it can have serious consequences. Always ensure that the main farmhouse, farmyard and outbuildings are properly locked to prevent access when they’re not in current use, even if you are present.
11) Join a neighbourhood watch scheme
Fostering community solidarity is a great way to make everyone in the area feel safer and less isolated. By joining a neighbourhood watch scheme, you can benefit from additional support and peace of mind, knowing that you and your neighbours have each other’s backs.
Additional steps to protect your farm, livestock and other assets
On top of the farmyard security options we provided above, there are many other simple changes that you can affect that collectively can make a huge impact on your peace of mind. Each functions as part of the wider security puzzle.
Familiarise yourself with your legal rights
Familiarising yourself with the appropriate procedures for removing trespassers from your site and your rights as a landowner will keep you on the right side of the law whilst bolstering your confidence.
For instance, according to UK law, trespass to land is in most cases a civil matter. This means the police do not have the power to assist you until you have asked trespassers to leave following the use of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour towards the occupier, any damage caused or other criminal offences. As trespass is such a complex topic, it’s definitely worth seeking out expert advice to know how to handle such circumstances.
Implement a recruitment vetting procedure
A vetting procedure for all employees will ensure that your farm is always in good hands and that all processes are followed accurately. This can include checking school records, requesting detailed references and, of course, criminal records.
Invest in malicious damage cover
Malicious damage cover can be a lifeline in the event of an incident as it helps cover the expenses racked up via repairs and replaced items on top of any lost income. We recommend looking into all available insurance options to ensure you’re well protected.
Restore your peace of mind
With this whistle-stop tour of farmyard security at a close, we hope that you have a better idea of your security objectives and next steps. While the government has committed to supporting the agricultural industry to the tune of £2.4 billion, nothing can beat taking the initiative to protect your farm by exploring all of your options.
Peace of mind is invaluable – if you wish to learn more about the impact that hired security could have on your farm, contact one of X9 Security’s seasoned experts via the contact form.