Young farmers in Cumbria will play a key role in helping to keep farming and rural communities safe through a new training initiative.

The training package is being developed to support young farmers in identifying practical actions that local farmers in their club’s area can take to prevent themselves from becoming victims of crime.

The initiative was developed by Joe Murray, Chair of the Cumbria Neighbourhood Watch Association (NWA) in conjunction with Cumbria FYFC County Chair, Robbie Tuer, and has been progressed with the support of the Police Crime Prevention Academy (the Academy).

The organisations are now working with NFYFC to develop the training into one of the Curve modules so that it can be accessed by YFC members across England and Wales.

Robbie Tuer, Cumbria FYFC County Chair, said: “As chairman of the Cumbria Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (Cumbria YFC), an organisation of some 1800 young farmers, the Farm Crime Prevention Initiative struck a chord with me immediately. Although not all our members live or work on farms, most have strong links with their local rural communities and care passionately about supporting and protecting them.

“We are delighted to be involved with this much needed Initiative and hope to play an integral part in its development over the coming years. Our young farmers are the present and the future of Cumbria and will play an active and vital role in the development of farming and agriculture in the years to come.

“Through the support and guidance offered by this Initiative our farming and rural communities and the people who live and work within them will have the opportunity to develop and thrive in a safe and secure environment”.

The training in crime prevention will include being able to carry out forensic property marking that can help prevent owners of expensive machinery from becoming victims of crime.

Amanda Mulholland, from the Police Crime Prevention Academy, said:

“The Academy will be working with the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) to develop a training session in line with existing NFYFC modules and asking local young farmers to be involved in piloting the training over the winter and spring on 2022/23. The aim is to pass the training onto the NFYFC so that it can become one of a suite of modules that young farmers in Cumbria and across the UK can access and put to good use in their local communities.”

The initiative is being supported by national partners including NFU Mutual, Crimestoppers, local partners including Cumbria Police. NFU Mutual are also funding the initiative.