The Rural SafeGuard™ team spent the day connecting with farmers, landowners and rural professionals, listening to real stories about the challenges they face every day. From fly-tipping to machinery theft, we heard it all. We shared our own on-the-ground insights too, exploring how an intelligence-led approach can help protect what matters most. At its heart, the day was about connection, understanding and standing shoulder to shoulder with the rural community against crime.
The Rural SafeGuard™ team spent two days delivering insights, leading farm walks, showcasing live demonstrations, and engaging in meaningful conversations on rural crime prevention. Throughout the event, the team shared decades of expertise built over 40 years of safeguarding work across multiple industrial sectors, offering practical guidance and proven strategies to help reduce rural crime.
At the Newark Showground, the team shared simple and practical guidance on protecting farms, covering everything from equipment and property to the wider livelihood. They provided real world advice, demonstrated effective solutions and supported farmers with strategies to reduce rural crime.
Too often, farm safety and security conversations happen after something has already gone wrong; that’s why we believe those conversations are far more effective when they happen earlier — while there’s still time to take practical steps and stay ahead of the risk. That’s why we’re looking forward to the Newark & Notts Agricultural Society Farm Safety Event, NFU taking place at Newark Showground on 21 January 2026. On the day, we’ll be joining a NFU (National Farmers’ Union) specialist advisor and the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for rural crime to speak with farmers and landowners about practical, real-world ways to deter and detect rural crime — based on experience and what genuinely works on the ground. We’re pleased to be supporting this event alongside Nottinghamshire Police. If you’re attending, please come and say hello at the Rural Safeguard™ stand and speak with Frank Cannon CSyP and Charlie Frank CSyP MSyl RISC We’d be very pleased to hear about your rural crime concerns and discuss practical approaches relevant to your land and operations.
Rural SafeGuard will be attending the upcoming National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) Annual Conference, bringing its structured, prevention-first approach to the forefront of national rural security conversations. As the UK’s first holistic rural crime deterrence programme, Rural SafeGuard is committed to working alongside policymakers, law enforcement, insurers, and industry leaders to strengthen resilience across rural communities. The conference provides a key platform to share insights, build strategic partnerships, and further its mission of protecting livelihoods, reinforcing food security, and establishing a consistent national framework for rural crime prevention. If you’re attending, we’d be delighted to connect and have a conversation.
Theme: Working Together to Reduce Rural Crime. Keynote Speaker: Robbie Moore MP, Shadow Minister for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. Speakers: Dr Kreseda Smith, Senior Lecturer in Rural Criminology and Social Science, Harper Adams University. Frank Cannon, CSyP, Rural SafeGuard™ Programme Director, crime reduction pracademic. Co Host: Farmers Club & Rural SafeGuard™, by the Optimal Risk Group. Attendance: 70-members and VIP guests. Sponsor: TBC. Outline Schedule Ser Time Event Speaker Remarks 1 17:30 Meet & greet Didi Wheeler – CE The Farmers Club Mike O’Neill MD Optimal Risk Group Richard West, Programme Director Rural SafeGuard Meet the Sponsors 2 17:55 Take your seats Optimal Risk team 3 18:00 Welcome and housekeeping Didi & Mike Purpose, Outcome, and Theme Mike to introduce first speaker 4 18:15 The Bad Guys An Academic’s View Dr Kreseda Smith Senior Lecturer in Rural Criminology and Social Science, Harper Adams University Richard West to facilitate Q&A 5 18:50 The Good Guys Help from the private security sector Frank Cannon CSyP Rural SafeGuard Programme Director 6 19:15 Keynote Speaker – Robbie’s Rambles Robbie Moore MP Shadow Minister for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Mike to facilitate Q&A, sum up and close 7 20:00 Supper and networking Meet the Sponsors Adjourn to the lounge and bar TBC 8 21:30 Event concludes Dispersal and Club routine
Rural SafeGuard will be exhibiting at the Cereals Event this year, where you can find the team at Stand 440. Recognised as the UK’s largest arable farming event, Cereals is a key date in the agricultural calendar, bringing together over 25,000 farmers, industry professionals, and hundreds of exhibitors to explore the latest innovations, technology, and challenges shaping modern farming. To be hosted at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm, the event has gained even greater prominence, shining a national spotlight on the realities and future of British agriculture. If you’re attending, we look forward to having a chat.