About Wear & Tees Farm Watch

Wear & Tees Farm Watch was formed in 1989 by a group of about 15 farmers who were constantly having equipment stolen. Horse and cattle trailers and four-wheel quad bikes were particular favourites of the criminal fraternity.

The original group soon expanded its success became locally known.

John Priestley was employed in 1995 as Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator and soon afterwards as Farm Watch co-ordinator, to assist the group's efficiency and effectiveness in deterring rural crime.

Wear and Tees Farm Watch became a non-profit making limited company in 1998.

Today there are 21 individual watch groups within the organisation and over 570 farmer members.