From thefts of firearms to stock and equipment, and from trespass to illegal hunting, these offences are emerging as a significant problem for the agricultural industry.

It’s a problem severe enough for the government to launch an inquiry earlier this year.

In forums organised and promoted by the NSW Farmers’ Association, the review heard from hundreds of farmers across the state about increasing issues with rural crime.

Are current resource levels, including staffing, at rural police stations adequate to respond to crime on farms?

Key problems identified by members included a lack of these resources and the capabilities of police to respond.

They also investigated the penalties associated with the crime, and the infrequency with which strong penalties were handed down to offenders.

With those reports in mind, the peak body has formulated new policy, calling on the NSW government to take a number of actions attempting to curb rural crime.

The association passed a motion calling for the government to provide additional funding and staffing for rural police stations, particularly so they can attend the out-of-hours calls that are inevitably associated with crime on farms.

It has also called for a minimum mandatory fine of $5500 for trespass.

It would be bad enough to have strangers running amok in a place of business, which is what a farm is.

But, what’s worse is people trespassing and hunting on properties that are home to farming families.

People need to be able to feel safe on their properties and go about making their living from the land in peace.

Police are working hard on this and have made some good breakthroughs, but to have more officers in rural areas could only help act as a deterrent.

More personnel deployed may also lead to more cases solved.

Mandatory tougher penalties have value as a specific deterrent to those people caught trespassing.

It could also work as a general deterrent to others in the community who may be considering trespassing.

It’s also something to which we can all make a contribution - keep an eye out for anything unusual, report offences and lock up your property.

Police believe the best way to start change in the way rural crime is approached is to be vigilant in reporting.

They believe some rural crime is not reported to police and therefore statistics do not match what is actually occurring on rural properties.

Some police believe farmers may think some crimes are too small to report or they may not see a point to reporting the crime if, in the case of trespassing, the persons have already left the property.

This is not the case.

Everything needs to be reported to assist police with their inquiries.

Some police funding is determined upon statistics and if crimes are not reported, it does not show up when this funding is being considered.

A report on rural crime, by former Dubbo police officer Steve Bradshaw, has been handed to the government for consideration.

Let’s hope those in their offices in the city listen to what is required tom help those battling in the bush.