BEAMINSTER: The successful Stop that Thief programme has captured the attention of the Thames Valley Police.

A team of officers have visited the Beaminster area for talks on a fact-finding mission.

The visitors, from Newbury Police Station, left in a ‘very positive frame of mind’, says Beaminster beat manager PC Timothy Poole.

He added: “They came down on a fact-finding mission to learn more about the system.

“What we have here is a defined crime prevention system that has not been done before.

“It’s a joint initiative, between the police, the National Farmers Union, and local farmers, and it works because of close co-operation between the parties.

“The decrease (in non-dwelling crime) is year on year.”

Since its inauguration in 2007 the programme has helped more than 200 farmers and members of the rural community in deterring thefts in and around Marshwood Vale and Beaminster.

Stop that Thief is run entirely on contributions from the farming community and businesses.

It aims to target and protect ‘deadstock’ on farms – farm machinery, tools and kit.

Another initiative called Stop That Sheep, is aimed at deterring and detecting livestock thefts.

Donations are made through the NFU Beaminster office and the money is banked into a separate fund which is used to purchase items of security alarms, predominantly wireless equipment.

Paul Bennett, West Dorset NFU group secretary, and one of the participants in talks with the Thames Valley team, said: “The scheme has had tremendous success with interest in it from all over the country.

“West Dorset NFU has been very pleased to support it and publicise it to our farmers.”

l PC Poole said that 23 breeding ewes had gone missing from Beaminster Down between October 7-12.

He said: “(Sheep) rustling is not constant but it does happen and is very discouraging to local businesses. Methods to tackle this are in ongoing development.”