FARMERS are being urged to keep in contact with colleagues on nearby farms if they have concerns about strange behaviour in and around their properties.

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame and Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs Paul Wheelhouse met with representatives from the farming community and police at Baddinsgill Farm near West Linton to discuss the issue of agricultural crime.

Ms Grahame, who chairs the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee and chaired a roundtable discussion on rural crime earlier this year, said: “One first step would be for farmers to communicate with others via, say, text message if they notice strange behaviour on their land. It would also be good if members of the public did the same. I have suggested that Police Scotland could hold discussions at the Borders agricultural shows on preventing and detecting rural crime like thefts of farm machinery and livestock.” The contingent learned that Baddingsgill Farm alone lose around 20 ewes a year and these incidents are not opportunistic crimes as someone with shepherding experience is required. Another of the farmers said he had lost 200 sheep in two years, which is a significant loss of income.

Ms Grahame added: “Agricultural crime has a severe impact on the farming community and there are huge consequences for the industry when vehicles and other equipment are stolen.

“Farmers often don’t discover the crime until several months later when sheep come off the hill and they are often reluctant to admit to losses when they can lose their cover, not just see premiums hikes.” Ms Grahame has now written to local police commander Chief Superintendent Gill Imery to suggest Police Scotland could hold presentations at local agricultural shows like the Border Union and Peebles shows.