More than 150 officers were on farm sites

At the height of the foot-and-mouth crisis, more than 150 officers were permanently deployed on farm sites in Devon and Cornwall. Many were brought from other areas, including cities.

But now most of the officers have returned to their original duties.

One company that specialises in rural insurance, NFU Mutual, which insures more than two-thirds of UK farmers, estimates that crime costs it more than �100m a year across the UK.

The firm has also claimed that CCTV cameras in town centres have led to a sharp rise in crimes in villages and the countryside.

Last year, National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Ben Gill told the Home Secretary that there must be more visible policing in rural areas because the isolated position of farmers and rural residents makes them more fearful of crime.

He said: "Farmers and growers are under enough pressure without having to worry about the safety and security of their families and possessions."

Invaluable knowledge

Several agencies will be taking part in Operation Knightwatch.

Local representatives from the National Rivers Association, Environment Agency, the NFU, hunt groups and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation will work alongside uniformed officers.

Rural Crime Intelligence Officer PC Steve Belsom said: "They know the back roads best and their local knowledge, not only about the area but also the people who regularly come and go, will prove invaluable to this operation."

Part of the monthly operation will include road checks being carried out at specific locations, checking vehicles and searching if there is reasonable grounds to suspect criminal activity is taking place.