Farmers and market gardeners are happy with the ZLTO’s confidential advisor to whom they can report drug crime in the outlying area. Thanks to the reports, it has become clearer how criminals work and which farmers and market gardeners are vulnerable to criminals, the farmers’ organization concludes.
The confidential adviser is Femke van de Plas. Last year she helped farmers and market gardeners who were approached by criminals. Farmers and horticulturists often do not dare to say this to the police, because they are afraid that this can be traced back to them.
Van de Plas visits the farmers to discuss the report and find a solution. She writes nothing down and records nothing. She is the only one who contacts the police with the farmer’s consent, so that the reporter remains anonymous.
Farmers and market gardeners are happy with this and bring suspicious situations to her attention. For example, she received reports from farmers who had received a note in their mailbox asking if there was a stable for rent. Farmers and market gardeners also received telephone calls or visits from people asking whether barns or stables were empty.
“Amount of rent raises doubts.”
That does not always mean that they are criminals. “But the price they want to pay for the rent, the special or suspicious reason for renting or questions about how many people come to the yard, often raised doubts among farmers and market gardeners,” says Femke.
Furthermore, it appears that they were usually approached in a friendly manner and that in many of these cases it was easy to decline an offer. That does not make a confidential adviser superfluous, says Hendrik Hoeksema, board member at the ZLTO. “Farmers can report many more abuses,” he says.
“Why would you report if the police do nothing?”
ZLTO also received reports of break-ins and theft of GPS material, for example. Taking these reports seriously is also important, according to Hoeksema. “If the police and judiciary take these matters seriously, farmers will also be more likely to report drug labs, drug dumping or drug deals. Why would you report this if the same police do nothing about theft on your property?” he says. “Especially if notifications could potentially lead back to you?”
Last year it also became clear that contractors in agriculture and livestock farming are vulnerable to criminals. For example, they are involved in earthmoving or transporting manure. These are activities that are interesting for drug transport and the dumping or concealment of a drug production.
Horticulturists can also be targeted in the winter months when cultivation is temporarily halted due to the high gas prices. Farmers and horticulturists who retire or make use of the stoppers scheme are also more vulnerable.
“These groups receive help from social workers so that they are not tempted by criminals,” says the ZLTO director. Thanks to the positive results, the confidential advisor will continue for at least another three years.
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