Researchers at Aberystwyth University are asking farmers for their views on how rural crime is being tackled in the Dyfed-Powys Police area.

Dr Wyn Morris from the Aberystwyth Business School and Dr Gareth Norris from the university’s Department of Psychology want farmers and other key stakeholders to share their experiences of farm-related crime, police attitudes towards farm crime and the effectiveness of crime-prevention measures in rural areas.

Funded by the office of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner, the study was launched during the Royal Welsh Show.

The new research project will build on the Rural Crime Survey carried out by the university in 2017 and used to inform Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Strategy for 2017-2021.

Responses and comments will be collated using an online questionnaire which will be available until 30 September at aber.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/rural-crime-study-2.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Dr Morris said: “Rural crime is a serious problem for farmers, the police and our communities in general.

“Our new research aims to capture the changes in police responses and attitudes towards farm and rural crime since the implementation of the 2017-2021 Rural Crime strategy.

“It will also evaluate the interventions introduced by the police since 2017 and will inform future crime-prevention measures.”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Wednesday