THE success of CESAR and Datatag in the fight against rural crime is set to be highlighted during National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) Action Week, which runs from September 8-12.
The week brings together police, insurers, industry partners, and residents to work collectively on solutions to rural crime.
Among the tools making a difference are the CESAR Scheme and wider range of forensic security systems developed by Datatag ID Ltd.
CESAR, the official Construction and Agricultural Equipment Security and Registration Scheme owned by the CEA and supported by the AEA, provides machinery with a unique, permanent identity using Datatag’s technologies. With triangular ID plates, hidden RFID transponders, Datadots and a covert forensic DNA solution, CESAR is designed to make it almost impossible for criminals to disguise stolen equipment.
Police forces across the UK are equipped with the RAPID app, allowing instant checks and helping to secure recoveries and prosecutions.
The effectiveness of the scheme is illustrated in Derbyshire, where police have made CESAR and Datatag a cornerstone of their rural crime strategy. Working with farmers and dealers, more than 70,000 assets, ranging from livestock trailers to combine harvesters, have been protected. Theft rates of CESAR-marked machinery are said to have dropped to just 0.06% when recoveries are included, with recovery rates three times the national average.
CESAR is backed by agricultural brands, including John Deere, New Holland, Kubota, Massey Ferguson, and Manitou, many of which fit the system as standard. It is also supported by insurers, with the NFU offering reduced premiums for CESAR-protected machines.
Alongside CESAR, Datatag has developed systems to protect other high-risk items, including agricultural GPS units, trailers, and 4x4s. Datatag’s GPS Security System gives each unit a permanent and traceable identity.
