Conducting a farm security review

Farm security is something that can easily become part of the background when you're busy with immediate tasks. A gate has always been left that way, the quad is normally parked in the same shed, or a camera was installed several years ago and is assumed to be working. Rural Crime Week is a good opportunity to change that.

The Ulster Farmers' Union is encouraging farm families to take some time to walk around their farm and carry out a simple security review. The aim is to identify obvious weaknesses, make theft more difficult, and improve the chances of recovering property if something is stolen.

Start at the road
Begin your review at the entrance to the farm and work your way in. Ask whether someone could drive directly into the yard without being noticed. Are there entrances which are rarely used but remain accessible? Are gates, fences, and boundaries in good condition?

The PSNI advises rural businesses to consider restricting vehicle access to driveways and farm yards, and stresses that good neighbours and vigilance remain important deterrents against crime.

Yard gates should be kept closed and you should ensure gates protecting more remote livestock are properly secured. Review gate hinges and locks, including turning or capping hinges where appropriate so that a locked gate cannot simply be lifted off.

Look at what can be seen from the public road too. If high-value machinery, fuel tanks or equipment are clearly visible, could they be moved somewhere less exposed?

Check your buildings and machinery

Next, walk through sheds, workshops and stores. Are doors and locks fit for purpose? Are windows secure? Are valuable tools left somewhere where they could be quickly removed?

Store vehicles in lockable buildings where possible, keep keys hidden and securely locked away, and use security lighting around vulnerable areas. For quads and ATVs, a suitable physical security mechanism such as a chain or locking device can be used to secure machines to a fixed point. Consider trackers, immobilisers, and mechanical security devices.

It is worth thinking in layers. A locked farm gate, a locked building, an immobilised machine, and a tracker all create separate obstacles. If one measure is defeated, the other remain.

Know what you own

One of the simplest parts of a farm security review is also one of the most important. If a tractor, trailer, quad, or piece of equipment disappeared tonight, could you immediately provide the PSNI with its serial number, chassis number, and a recent photograph?

Farm families should record identifying numbers and photograph all expensive machinery regularly. Forensic marking schemes make stolen machinery easier for police to identify and more difficult for criminals to sell.

Keeping a simple inventory of valuable equipment could make a significant difference if the worst happens.

Test the security you already have

Do not assume that because CCTV, alarms, or lighting are installed, they are working properly - test them.

Check that cameras are recording, that lenses are clear, and that images captured on them are good enough to identify a person or vehicle. Check security lighting and alarms, and make sure cameras have not been moved or obscured.

Do not forget livestock or isolated land

Farm security extends beyond the main yard, and the PSNI recommends taking photographs or a video of valuable animals with identifying marks or ear tags clearly visible

You should check livestock regularly, vary the times of those checks, maintain secure field gates, and pay particular attention to fields in secluded locations or close to main roads.

Recognise, record and report

Finally, no farm operates in isolation. You should be able to recognise suspicious activity, record it at the time, and promptly report it. Farmers are encouraged to note details such as a vehicle's make, model, colour, and registration, as well as the time and location, and to take photographs where it is safe to do so.

Speak to your neighbours, participate in any Farm Watch or local WhatsApp groups, and report suspicious activity to the PSNI. If an online group of neighbours does not exist, create one.

No security system can remove every risk, but spending half an hour walking around the farm as though you were seeing it for the first time may reveal weaknesses that have simply become familiar. During Rural Crime Week, the UFU is encouraging members to review, secure, record and report. If you can spot the weak point before a criminal does, you have already made your farm a harder target.