A CRIME-fighting camera is up and rolling in Warwickshire thanks to NFU Mutual.
The Stratford-based insurer stumped up the funding for the camera to help Warwickshire Police protect the county’s rural communities.
It is one of 13 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to be introduced in countryside locations across England and Wales. Other locations include Cambridgeshire, Durham, Wiltshire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, Humberside, North Wales and Gwent.
The £62,000 initiative is part of NFU Mutual’s ongoing commitment to fund activities that protect rural communities.
It aims to deter criminal activity such as hare coursing, fly-tipping, and rural vehicle crime, while enhancing the ability of officers to respond quickly and effectively.
Last year, NFU Mutual revealed that the cost of rural crime to the UK was an estimated £44.1million in 2024 as organised thieves continued to strike.
Nick Turner, chief executive at NFU Mutual, said: “Rural crime is an issue that continues to plague our members and those in the countryside.
“We regularly hear of the disruption it causes in day-to-day activities and the financial implications suffered. Our latest report reveals it cost the UK an estimated £44.1million, showing the ongoing problem we are all facing.
“Working in collaboration with police forces, we have funded 13 ANPR cameras in a bid to deter criminals looking to commit crime. Not only will this aid local resource, but it also supports NFU Mutual’s aims and commitments to invest in areas and initiatives that will help protect communities living in rural areas.”
The cameras will be strategically placed in rural locations identified as high-risk for criminal activity, ensuring maximum coverage and impact.
Sergeant Ruth Day, of Warwickshire Police’s rural crime team, added: “The new NFU Mutual-funded ANPR cameras are already having a tangible impact on some of the most persistent crime trends affecting our rural communities. Organised groups continue to target high-value agricultural machinery, and we are also seeing increasing reports of hare coursing, which brings with it significant criminality, intimidation, and damage to farmland.
” These cameras give us crucial real time intelligence to identify suspect vehicles, disrupt offenders, and respond decisively.”
