Widespread domestic abuse is a huge issue for policing in Norfolk, the county's crime commissioner told farmers at a club event.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk police commissioner Lorne Green (left) presented the barley trophy to John Key at Stalham Farmers' Club's annual dinner. Picture: Lee Blanchflower.Norfolk police commissioner Lorne Green (left) presented the barley trophy to John Key at Stalham Farmers' Club's annual dinner. Picture: Lee Blanchflower. (Image: Lee Blanchflower)

Lorne Green, who was elected almost two years, told the 176th annual dinner of Stalham Farmers' Club about the scale of domestic abuse across the county. He shocked the 115 members and guests at the Norfolk Mead Hotel in Coltishall, as he reported that between 40 and 50 complaints were being made each day. And the growing number of sexual abuse cases were also alarming too, he added.

Mr Green said rural policing was one of his major challenges and that he had set up a task force to review progress in tackling crimes including illegal hare coursing.

He also defended his decision to replace about 150 police and community support officers from the end of this month with 123 dedicated officers, which would help to give the chief constable a county-wide resource to meet the modern policing challenge.

Mr Green was invited by the retiring chairman, Jonathan Deane, to present the club's annual awards and trophies, which included two first-time winners in the grain competitions. For the first time since the barley trophy was presented in 1937, it was won by John Key, of Ormesby, and his son, Philip, with a sample of Maris Otter.

Another east Norfolk farmer, George Gay, of Mautby Farms, won the wheat cup with a sample of Grafton.

Earlier in the meeting, members stood in silence in memory of a long-serving secretary, Frank Read, aged 83, who had died on the eve of the annual dinner. He had been secretary for 24 years until 2011, when he had been elected an honorary life vice-president.

COMPETITION RESULTS:

Potato: 1, LF Papworth (Rooster); 2, Robin Baines & Co (Ivory Russet); 3, Walcott Farms (Fontane).

Sugar beet: Best two-acre: 1, GA Tallowin; 2 CN Beck & Sons; 3 A W Alston. Whole crop: 1 CN Beck & Sons; 2 R Cooke & Sons (Nigel Cooke); 3 A W Alston.

Wheat: 1, Mautby Farms (George Gay) Grafton; 2, Milligen McLeod (Skyfall); 3 HBS Farms (Costello).

Barley: 1, AJ Key & Son (Maris Otter); 2 Milligen McLeod; 3 R Cooke & Sons (Concerto).