Farmers working with West Mercia Police to give call handlers 'deeper understanding' of rural crime
Call handlers at West Mercia Police are set to receive dedicated rural crime training to give them more knowledge with the likes of rural crime terminology, with the first session taking place today (6 November)
Last updated 6th Nov 2025
Training to help West Mercia Police call handlers with further understanding rural crime is an "important step" which will "help to ensure when crimes are reported the impact is understood", says the National Farmers Union (NFU) Worcestershire county adviser.
The first session, taking place today (6 November), will aim to give those answering calls a deeper knowledge of rural crime terminology, common offences, and the specific challenges faced by the farming community.
It's been set-up following a series of community engagement sessions held by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for West Mercia earlier this year, which were created to better understand the challenges faced by those living and working in rural areas.
The PCC said in them the "recurring theme" from these conversations was that members of the farming community often felt their concerns were not fully recognised or understood by those they spoke to when reporting incidents.
In response, the NFU offered to support West Mercia Police by contributing to the training of call handlers and work began between them and the PCC’s office to address it.
NFU Worcestershire county adviser Emma Hamer says the training is about working together to tackle rural crime.
Rural crime is often misunderstood," she said.
"There are certain issues that we struggle with, things like hare coursing, fly-tipping, some thefts, arson, and sometimes there are incidents that are happening that need to tell the police about in an emergency.
"If we could explain to the call handlers the importance of reacting swiftly, getting patrols out there, catching the criminals in the act, we were hoping we could stop the criminals from carrying out these wildlife crimes and protecting farmers from criminal damage."
On the impact rural crime can have, she said: "There can be machinery theft, things can be stolen, livestock can be released, or if a tractor or a quad bike is stolen, that farmer can't do their job.
"It does take a toll on the farmer's mental health as well, the worry, the threat that they might come back and the damage that they could do to their homes, because their farms as well as being their businesses are their family homes too."
PCC John Campion said this training is a "vital step" in making sure call handlers are "equipped with the knowledge and understanding they need to support our rural communities effectively".
He added by listening to the concerns of farmers, and working in partnership with the NFU, "meaningful action" was being taken to "improve the service they receive".
Chief superintendent for crime and contact, Nigel Webster, said: "We have vast rural areas across the three counties we cover and welcome the offer from the NFU to better understand the challenges the farming community faces to help us deliver a better service to those who live and work in these areas.”