Staffs farmers demand tougher police action on rural crime

Staffordshire farmers under siege from criminals are demanding tougher action from police after 18 crimes were reported in just one area of the county in six months.

Farmer and businesswoman Eunice Finney hosted a meeting with police officers, Staffordshire NFU and farmer members on 15 March at Amerton Farm, in Stowe-by-Chartley, Stafford.

Despite having expensive CCTV, alarms and other deterrents, her business was targeted at least six times in six months from June to December last year, with Hereford-cross calves slaughtered in fields, the theft of five pygmy goats, a quad bike, tools and other equipment, and nighttime trespass.