A network of amateur sleuths scattered around the rural heartland of west Essex is helping to mount a new year blitz on crime in the Ongar and North Weald district.

Farmers, who often live in the most isolated areas, have united to share intelligence about the sneak thieves who prey on their properties.

The success of Farmwatch, launched last year by Fyfield beat officer PC Chris Caten, can be measured by the number of arrests.

He said: "Since March we've had 17 prisoners and these are people who would, no doubt, have escaped scot free but for the vigilance of the farmers."

PC Caten acts as a clearing house for the scheme, collating the reports he receives from farmers and passing them on to others.

Already there are 60 members in the network which stretches from The Rodings to Kelvedon Hatch and Roxwell to Nazeing.

He said: "The crimes covered vary from hare coursing and lamping (poaching) for rabbits to the theft of farm equipment, tools and fuel.

"For instance farm trailers are in great demand. They are being stolen, taken to a collection point and then shipped over to Ireland.

Tools, too, are easy prey because they are so difficult to identify: they don't have a serial number and are popular because they're easy to shift at car boot sales and the like."

The scheme was started by PC Caten after he was given a tip which led to four arrests by a woman he met purely by chance.

He said: "She had had the information for about four months but hadn't actually seen a policeman to pass it on to. Now I make sure we all keep in regular touch and this doesn't happen."

His "customers" are kept informed by fax through West Essex Farmers at Thornwood.

PC Caten also shares his intelligence with other police areas and DNA samples and fingerprints have led to arrests in other parts of the country.

Fyfield Farmer Barrett Frost helped launch the scheme. He said:" Our problem is that often expensive equipment has to be stored in isolated buldings which are easy game for the robber. This system helps us prevent crime as well as catching criminals.

"If any of our members spot a stranger or an unfamiliar vehicle we'll report it to PC Caten and almost immediately all our other members will be alerted."

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