More henchmen = reduction in rural crime?

[historybleeps]

Following a conversation with a farmer friend today.
200 Acres - 1 Farmer.
No man can monitor such a piece of land.
From Thieves, Hare Coursers, Poachers, Fly Tippers, Night Hawkers it seems the farmer is exposed from all angles.
Why not use the eyes and mobiles phones of legitimate henchmen to keep you informed of what is happening on your land.
I am a metal detectorist and a loyal friend and henchmen to any farmer who allows me to wander on their land and I would not hesitate to inform of trespassers and 'no-gooders'.
As a townie I can assure you there are no end of decent people who would love to make a friendship with their local farmer and support you when needed.
Don't be alone - get yourself some henchmen?
Am I wrong?

 

[Robt]

so how do we know you arent just the faceman for the naughty crew?
Sorry but you are approaching this wrong. Knock on doors face to face but expect to get no where.

 

[historybleeps]

so how do we know you arent just the faceman for the naughty crew?
Sorry but you are approaching this wrong. Knock on doors face to face but expect to get no where.

Well you don't - But that's my point entirely.
This is the shame - that it is the distrust of non-farmers by famers caused by a few morons.
All I can say is that a front man of a naughty crew will probably not show you his ID and show you his address.
He also will probably not be a qualified school teacher and a youth group leader (My you can never be sure!).
This is not a tap up for a permission but merely by musing after meeting some really nice (but scared) farming folk.
Cheers
Tim

 

[uztrac]

With all that is happening around the countryside our family policy is " Trust No one". All vehicles have breakdown cover if folk are out away from home so no one is stranded etc. About the only visitor who does not arouse suspusion is the postie.

 

[Wilksy]

it’s not an irrational mistrust issue it’s born out of been let down, taken advantage of, folk taking liberty’s, I shoot for lad I went right through school with I’m the only bloke allowed, but if I put a foot wrong I’m out no messing, I don’t think people start out abusing the trust they just grow complacent, ‘familiarity breeds contempt’

 

[DrWazzock]

I have found an excellent way to deflect such requests. “ Ok, well I’ll put your request to the board of trustees.”
Sometime later....
“What was their responses?”
“Its a No I’m afraid.”
“Why?”
“The board of trustees never gives reasons and their decision is final.”
Deflects it away nicely.
“But....”
“Sorry mate, it’s out of my hands.”

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Following a conversation with a farmer friend today.
200 Acres - 1 Farmer.
No man can monitor such a piece of land.
From Thieves, Hare Coursers, Poachers, Fly Tippers, Night Hawkers it seems the farmer is exposed from all angles.
Why not use the eyes and mobiles phones of legitimate henchmen to keep you informed of what is happening on your land.
I am a metal detectorist and a loyal friend and henchmen to any farmer who allows me to wander on their land and I would not hesitate to inform of trespassers and 'no-gooders'.
As a townie I can assure you there are no end of decent people who would love to make a friendship with their local farmer and support you when needed.
Don't be alone - get yourself some henchmen?
Am I wrong?

hardly ground breaking. Most now have what’s app groups set up with all the locals, any Subaru’s within 10 miles of here are usually clocked before they get close!

 

[Robt]

Well you don't - But that's my point entirely.
This is the shame - that it is the distrust of non-farmers by famers caused by a few morons.
All I can say is that a front man of a naughty crew will probably not show you his ID and show you his address.
He also will probably not be a qualified school teacher and a youth group leader (My you can never be sure!).
This is not a tap up for a permission but merely by musing after meeting some really nice (but scared) farming folk.
Cheers
Tim

So, can I come to your house, rip up your floor boards, go through your cupboards abs I promise to share what I find?

 

[delilah]

He also will probably not be a qualified school teacher and a youth group leader (My you can never be sure!).

Tim, to use an analogy you will relate to, you have wandered in to the remedial classroom.

 

[Classichay]

Tim, to use an analogy you will relate to, you have wandered in to the remedial classroom.

Many here don’t want to share their favourite flavour of crayon 🖍,

but on a serious note there’s many posts like this appearing and it just becomes sad but a sign of the times. We keep the gate locked and watch everything going on, anyone showing too much interest or out of place gets the same response and asked to leave, insurers aren’t playing by the ball and any room to get out is becoming more apparent. With covid it’s drawn a lot of people wanting alternate means of income into the countryside who aren’t going to play fair.
An example was; Four sheep tied up in a skoda the other night headed off with two guys headed into Wolverhampton stopped in the early hours.... looks like everything’s up for grabs at the moment

 

[Grandad Pig]

Sorry times indeed. But the OP has a point in a way. Having a couple of detectorists out in fields in all weathers is ‘more eyes’ on the street, so to speak.

I have permission to detect on two local farms and on three occasions have reported odd comings and going’s, one of which turned out to be suspicious.

I have lived in the village for over 30 years, am connected to agriculture (FE Ag lecturer) and am known to the local farmers and so not a stranger to them I suppose.
I do not think many detectorists do themselves any favours though. For example, local fields are down to WW this year. No way would I go walking in those fields and confine myself to field margins and footpaths, any objects will still be there after harvest under stubble, yet in the field behind my house belonging to a different farmer, I watched three detectorists walking all over the emerging crop.

it is a pity though that land owners and detectorists do not work to mutual advantage but fully understandable.

 

[shumungus]

With all that is happening around the countryside our family policy is " Trust No one". All vehicles have breakdown cover if folk are out away from home so no one is stranded etc. About the only visitor who does not arouse suspusion is the postie.

Our Postie got jail for stealing post. Birthday cards/money and exam result time money was going missing. Police arrested him at sorting office and found mail in his locker then went to his house where he had a stash in his garage.

 

[PSQ]

The last thing any farmer wants are detectorists wandering around willy nilly , digging holes everywhere’, and informing Plod that you’ve found the last sod that tried to rob Mr Farmer.

 

[Vincent]

Some just see farm land and the country side as a resource or area to do as they please be it fly tipping / chasing hares / metal detection / fire wood supply / hunting game or what ever else they see fit to do. There is no regards for personal property so it's no wonder land owners are cautious.

 

[ewald]

If you have someone you know and trust - then the idea has some merit.
Anyone approaching me to shoot or detect on my land would almost certainly be turned away, unless already known.

 

[TheTallGuy]

There's a few issues here... firstly detectorists are only going to be about for very little time & at limited times of the year for most arable farms so not much benefit unless detecting is done in the dark. Next up is it tends to be a case of "invite one.... invite all" - if people see that detecting is allowed on a piece of land it often encourages others to have a go regardless of whether they have permission. Then of course there's the issue of insurance - my public liability insurance specifically excludes me from allowing members of the public to undertake leisure activities on the farm & that includes detectoring, equestrian activities, airsoft/paintball...

 

[Dry Rot]

A lot of unintended harm can be done through ignorance. Rescuing a 'lost lamb' that isn't lost at all. Closing gates that were meant to be left open -- and vice versa. "Oh, I didn't turn up because it was raining" when electric fences were turned off and stock moved to accommodate the shooter/detectorist. Farmer sees a strange figure down the field and has to stop work to go and investigate. A lot easier and safer just to say 'no'. Go and ask at a few local factories or offices if you can just have a wander around and see what response you get. You could even tell them that you don't charge, it's free, and you will be doing them a favour. That should go down well.

 

[Landrover]

I had a request here between Xmas and new year, a local chav phoned me to ask if he could bring his kids and the motorbike they got for Xmas to ride around in the quarry on the farm you have motorbikers there "all" the time ! I explained that once a year we have a vintage enduro event of which they are never in the quarry as it's a working quarry and that's not allowed. The event is all insured by the organizers of which I have nothing to do with and have no responsibility of ! Still he wouldn't take no for an answer even offered me a bottle of whiskey if they could come so I told him that I would get my solicitor to draw up a contract for him to sign that meant I had no responsibility of any injuries or damage occurred all at his expense of course, he hung up on me at that point ! We have a couple of lads that come metal detecting here, one is well into his 70s and the other in his 80s and I think they just come to get out of the house ! Not seem them for a year or more now tho since the 'rona

 

[kfpben]

I don’t understand the problem with metal detectors.
I have a club on the farm every couple of months. They are nice people (if a little odd!), pay £250 a time and tell me interesting things about the past. What’s not to like?

 

[betternextyear]

Oh dear this thread is a bit negative about detectorists.
My friend is a keen detectorist and due to his skill .I will be attending a coroners inquest (nothing to do with dead people thank god) because he has found one of the most significant Saxon artifacts of Shropshire in my field. I will be recieving half its value, probably not a lot but welcome all the same. He has also found many bronze Roman items on the farm as well. Each item is a fascinating view into the 2000 year old history of my farm and I love seeing all these wonderful things.
So dont rush to dismiss metal detecting, the guys I have met have all been great .
But no they arent much use at lambing ewes or calving cows.