A campaign to thwart criminals targeting property in isolated locations will be launched on Monday 25 January led by the County Council’s Northumberland West Community Safety Team.

Working with partners from the West area Local Multi Agency Problem Solving (LMAPS) group, which includes Northumbria Police and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, officers will implement a renewed Farmwatch campaign.

From 25 January, Northumberland County Council community wardens, police and officers from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service will visit farms and isolated properties in the West of the county.

The aim is to enrol those who live in rural and farming communities into the Farmwatch scheme and develop effective communication links with community safety partners so that suspicious activities can be promptly reported and investigated by the police.

The distribution of Farmwatch signs and alarms, funded by the Safer and Stronger Community Fund, will also form part of the visits. Officers will also provide information about crime prevention and fire safety.

Mick Connelly, LMAPS officer for Northumberland County Council said: “We believe these measures will help to protect residents in rural communities and frustrate the activities of those who travel into the area to commit crime. The aim is also to provide lines of communication with services that can provide guidance and up-to-date information regarding crime and fire safety issues.”

Throughout the year engagement with farming communities will continue with a range of activities such as mobile phone messaging and events at farmers’ marts where contact with community wardens and police neighbourhood beat teams can be maintained.