Travellers ‘siege’ local farmer - is this a reason why Dale Farm is happening or is it just a freak event?

The traveller site near Stow, where around 300 people have settled

A local farmer is “under siege” in his own home near Lincoln, after a traveller site was established close to his address in Stow.

The business owner, who wishes to remain unnamed due to security fears, has had his property broken into three times in the past five nights—in the six days since the travellers settled near Stow.

“During the day traveler vehicles are systematically intimidating us at our address in full view of police officers,” the local farmer told The Lincolnite.

“They drive past slowly, turn around and drive past again, constantly staring in the knowledge they are not committing an offence driving down a public road,” he said.

“The police then quite rightly fear to go into their camp. Following a confrontation when a traveler entered our yard, he threatened to ram a friend’s vehicle with his own and threatened to return with men who were ‘tooled-up’.”

The business owner, who has two three-year-old sons and a five-week-old baby daughter, says they “are under siege in our own home, frightened to go out or leave the home unattended. We are experiencing serious alarm and distress.”

He says the most recent break-in involved six men, with the previous break-ins involving two men. The man had to employ security guards over the past week just to keep his property safe, at a cost escalating £1,000 already.

“The night has become a full alert stand-off between our two night security guards and the suspects.

“We have no option but to try to defend our property, but are terrified to provoke the onslaught of their greater numbers,” he said.

“Our necessity for the 24-hour security guards means that the lack of police resources is putting the lives of members of the public at considerable risk.

“We do not usually employ security. Our neighbours have experienced similar intimidation, alarm and distress.”

Lincolnshire Police Inspector Simon Outen said he was aware of the problems the local farmer is experiencing over the past few days.

“Over the last week we have had a number of calls reporting suspicious vehicles in the area and unknown offenders attempting to gain access to one particular premises in the area.

“As a result I have requested extra resources to boost our uniformed presence. I have also employed undercover tactics such as plain clothed officers.

“We have deployed extra vehicles and police dogs and will continue to do so should there be any further reports.

“Thankfully the offenders have not been successful in any attempts to steal but where an individual or premises is repeatedly targeted we obviously take that very seriously and we would urge the community to support us in this by reporting suspicious or illegal activity,” Outen added.

The farmer says “all of the individual PCs and PCSOs have been professional and courteous, obviously doing their best.

“Unfortunately their efforts are completely ineffective as they are spread too thinly. We are not being sufficiently protected.

“I fear it is only a matter of time before my family or staff are attacked and seriously injured,” he explained.

Further reading:

• Thieves target three city sheds overnight | Tue 07 Jun 2011
• Spate of burglaries triggers police warning | Mon 06 Jun 2011
• Two 'seriously' injured in Lindum Hill crash | Fri 03 Jun 2011

via thelincolnite.co.uk