REAN’s proposed Rural Community Warden programme is being developed to provide an additional visible and preventative presence for farmers, rural businesses and communities. Subject to funding, training and appropriate governance, wardens would undertake targeted reassurance patrols, visit farms and rural enterprises, provide practical crime-prevention advice, identify recurring local concerns and help ensure relevant information is directed through appropriate channels.

The programme also recognises the human impact of rural crime. The NFU reported in 2025 that 48% of members said rural crime negatively affected their mental health. For many farmers, the farm is both their workplace and their home, meaning repeated crime or suspicious activity can leave people feeling vulnerable and isolated. Regular contact with a trained, recognisable local warden would help farmers feel better informed, better connected and less alone when dealing with rural crime concerns.

REAN wardens would complement, not replace, the police. They would not exercise police powers or provide an emergency response. Instead, they would provide an additional community-based layer of prevention, reassurance, engagement and information sharing, supporting the wider policing principle that communities and partner organisations have an important role to play in identifying problems and helping tackle crime.