FARMERS and their families from across North Wales come together at the Celtic Royal Hotel in Caernarfon for an event regarding how rural communities can better protect themselves from crime.

This event, held on May 19, also set out crucial new measures being undertaken by North Wales Police to combat criminal activity across the region.

It was further supported by farming unions, the NFU and FUW, and opened with a welcome from Lllinos Angharad Owen, communications and fundraising manager for North Wales for Tir Dewi.

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Llinos outlined the purpose of the event and the support that Tir Dewi gives to the farming community.

Set up in 2015, Tir Dewi has actively helped hundreds of farmers and their families who were, in one way or another, struggling to cope, and today, farmers in need throughout Wales can access the services of the organisation.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin gave a keynote address, emphasising the importance of North Wales’ rural communities to him personally, the unique place they occupy in the culture and heritage of North Wales, and how crucial it is that communities, police and third sector partners work together to combat crime.

PC Dewi Owen of North Wales Police’s Cyber Crime Team emphasised the important of farmers being vigilant to online and cyber crime, given the increasingly digital nature of managing a business – even in farming.

He gave examples of various scams used by criminals, including those involving fake emails from supposed suppliers asking farmers to pay into a new account.

He also said how easy it is to harvest information from social media about farmers’ personal details that can later be used to defraud them.

PC Owen also highlighted how easy it can be for a farmer to post images of a new tractor or other type of machinery on social media that can be seen by criminals who might then try and steal the equipment.

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PCSO Iwan Owen, of North Wales Police’s Rural Crime Team, followed by detailing new measures that the force is deploying to protect agricultural communities.

He also shared the news of North Wales Police’s new “We Don’t Buy Crime” initiative to try to combat burglary, theft and other similar crimes where offenders profit from taking items from others.

Rural communities are a key part of this campaign, which will be using “Smart Water” DNA marking to protect farm equipment.

The campaign is in its early stages and farms across North Wales will soon begin benefiting from the technology and support on offer.

Mr Dunbobbin said: “I was delighted to co-host this event and I am certain all those who attended found it very worthwhile.

“I would also like to thank Tir Dewi, and the Cyber Crime and Rural Crime Teams at North Wales Police for their contributions.

“The more police, farming unions, the agricultural community, and residents of rural areas work together to stop rural and wildlife crime, the more effective we will be, and the sooner we can help put an end to these types of offences.”

The event and the messages behind it were carried live on S4C, where both PCSO Owen and Llinos Owen spoke to media about the important of raising awareness of crime in rural communities.