Funding from the NFU and the PCC is providing 1,000 specialist tools and equipment marking kits, provided by SelectaDNA.
Included in the forensic marking kits is a liquid made up of a unique synthetic DNA code and thousands of microscopic identification dots.
Once applied to tools and equipment, the indelible liquid dries clear, cannot be scratched off and can only be identified through UV lights and specialist microscopes.
Each tool or piece of equipment is then marked in a secure register so that, if theft occurs, police can identify the goods as stolen and reunite them with the owner.
The kits can mark up to 50 pieces of equipment and usually cost around £60 each. However, with the funding from PCC Katy Bourne and the NFU, Sussex Police’s Rural Crime Team will be distributing the kits free of charge to farmers throughout the county.
They will also supply and install signage, deterring thieves from entering the land and letting them know that the farm’s equipment and vehicles have been protectively marked.
Where these specialist kits have been deployed in other parts of the country, police forces and SelectaDNA report some great successes.
In North Yorkshire, there was a 91% reduction in theft and burglary offences from 1,500 farms which had been given SelectaDNA kits, compared to the same period in 2023, and in Sussex, an earlier trial of the kits in Rother saw a 52.9% reduction in burglary.
“Equipment theft continues to be a big problem for farmers and growers across Sussex, and across the country, so a scheme like this is very much-needed.”
NFU West Sussex County Chair Andrew Strong
Katy Bourne said: “Stolen machinery and vehicles are not easy or cheap to replace and thefts can mean that farmers are unable to plant, harvest and maintain crops and manage livestock. With rural crime costing the UK over £50 million a year, it was clear we needed to do more to protect Sussex farmers.
“Having previously commissioned a limited rollout of the kits in East Sussex with positive results, I am glad to be able to do this on a much larger scale, working closely with the NFU and Sussex Police’s dedicated Rural Crime Team.
“It is proven that marking and signage has a deterrent effect, as it not only improves the chances of farmers being re-united with their stolen property but also increases the odds of criminals actually being convicted.”
NFU West Sussex Chair Andrew Strong, who farms near Haywards Heath, said: “Equipment theft continues to be a big problem for farmers and growers across Sussex, and across the country, so a scheme like this is very much-needed.
“The reduction in theft and burglary in north Yorkshire, as a result of using these specialist kits, is hugely impressive. We were very impressed by what we saw at the demonstration of the specialist kits with Sussex Police last week and feel confident this will make a real impact.
“We are extremely grateful to Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne and her team for their very generous funding towards this.
“The NFU and the farming community has a very positive relationship with the PCC and Sussex Police’s Rural Crime Team and this is another great example of us all working together. We are happy to continue support projects like this and do all we can to tackle rural crime.”
Sussex Police Rural Crime Team lead, Detective Superintendent Jon Robeson, said: "Crime within our rural and farming communities remains a priority for Sussex Police. Our dedicated Rural Crime Team are committed to making our rural communities a hostile environment for criminals, and will continue to pursue such offenders and ensure a visible policing presence to deter them.
“These marking kits are a vital tactical option and enable our team to support farmers in marking property, which reduces the attractiveness to thieves and increases the chance of recovery and prosecution if stolen. In other areas where these have been employed, they have led to significant reductions in burglaries.”
Managing Director, Selectamark Security Systems plc said: “This is such an important initiative, given the pressures on UK farmers these days.
“By marking vital equipment and displaying the warning signage, SelectaDNA is proven to work as an extremely effective theft deterrent. This exciting project is a brilliant example of partnership working, with Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner, Sussex Police, NFU and SelectaDNA coming together to drive rural crime out of Sussex.”
If you work within the farming and agricultural sector and would like to express interest in tools and equipment marking kits, you can contact the Sussex Rural Crime Team by emailing: [email protected]