Devon & Cornwall Police have revealed a new member to its South Devon rural team; a John Deere 6110M tractor with a distinctive police livery.
The tractor has been loaned to the force free of charge until the end of September by dealer Masons Kings and will be seen across the region at agricultural shows and other summer events.
The rural force will use the tractor to raise awareness of the support police can give to those concerned about, or affected by, issues such as machinery and GPS theft, or livestock rustling and worrying. It’s part of a wider effort across the force to increase community messaging within rural areas.
Police constable Clarke Orchard said: “A huge part of our job is to connect to and be visible in our rural and agricultural communities. We work with local police neighbourhood teams to tackle rural crime and anti-social behaviour anywhere in our counties.
“While this vehicle won’t be used operationally, it will be seen at various shows across the region, sparking conversations with farmers, highlighting crime prevention strategies, and engaging with those who might not interact with police teams normally.”
Peter Endacott, Masons Kings general manager, said: “Masons Kings works very closely with all our farming customers and we are very conscious of the security of the high value of equipment that is held on farms. We are pleased to be working alongside Devon & Cornwall Police, raising awareness and sharing best practices, and using the best technology to help secure customer assets.”