Gardaí will urge farmers to put "simple protective measures" in place to reduce the chances of a farm becoming a target for criminal activity in a new webinar series that aims to inform farming families.

According to Sergent Graham Kavanagh, crime prevention officer with the Laois-Offaly division, although rural communities can feel quite isolated, they may not be isolated from crime.

According to Sgt. Kavanagh, simple protective measures including controlling access to property, and properly securing sheds and high-value items such as trailers and quads are among the key deterrents to preventing potential criminal activity on farms.

Kavanagh will join a panel of guest speakers to highlight this issue at the next series of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) farm family autumn webinars which begins on Monday (October 24) at 8:00p.m with a focus on rural crime prevention.

Alice Doyle, IFA farm family and social affairs chair, said the webinar is an important opportunity for farm families to familiarise themselves with practical measures to prevent crime on their farms.

“Farms can be dark and secluded places in the autumn and winter months, and can prove an inviting target for criminals," she said.

Also joining the speaker panel with Sgt. Kavanagh will be Barry Carey, IFA's crime prevention officer and Fred Flynn, branch manager with FBD on crime and insurance.

Following the focus on preventing crime, the IFA will follow this with a farmer health and wellbeing webinar next month, which will highlight ways that farm families can combat stress and improve physical health.

Doyle said the webinar on November 1, at 8:00p.m, will specifically look at how farm families can prepare for winter which can be "challenging".

The guest panel for the wellbeing seminar will include:

The IFA is encouraging farm families to visit its website to register in advance for the webinars.