AQW 15983/17-22


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 08/03/2021
Answered On Date: 19/03/2021
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline the steps taken by his Department to (i) reduce; and (ii) protect communities from rural crime.


Answer:
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has primary responsibility for preventing and detecting rural crime in Northern Ireland. Rural crime covers a wide range of crime including theft of machinery, burglaries of isolated farms and livestock crime.
The PSNI issues regular updates on agriculture and rural crime statistics and trends. The latest report is available at Agricultural and Rural Crime in Northern Ireland Update to 31st December 2020 (psni.police.uk). This report shows a downward trend over the last decade and a reduction of 14.1% of reported crimes in 2020.
My Department has a key responsibility in relation to preventing and detecting livestock crime as the theft of animals or illegal movements of animals undermines our animal health controls and animal and food traceability.
The Department’s Welfare & Enforcement Branch spearheads the Department’s work in this area through collaboration with the PSNI and other agencies; providing training, advice and communications; and taking enforcement measures including livestock seizures and prosecutions.
The role of the Department in tackling rural crime includes:
Founder member of the Rural Crime Partnership (RCP) which brings together representatives from key organisations, including the PSNI, the Department of Justice, Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU Mutual, Federation of Small Businesses and Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster. The primary purpose of the RCP is to contribute to the Programme for Government overall aim to reduce crime and harm and vulnerability caused by crime by acting as a regional strategic multi-sectoral and multi-agency group that facilitates collaboration and sharing of best practice to successfully address crime occurring in rural communities in Northern Ireland.
Shared responsibility for delivery of the detailed RCP Rural Crime Action Plan which has strands covering Prevent & Protect; Partnership Working; and Enforcement.
Working with the charity Crimestoppers to encourage reporting and ask the public to give information anonymously about rural crime across Northern Ireland.
Welfare & Enforcement Branch training of rural based Police Officers, through a Livestock Awareness Course, to upskill them to deal effectively with rural crime:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA4NP4vNIos&sns=em
Membership of the operational cross-border multi-agency Rural Crime Taskforce which includes the PSNI, an Garda Síochána, Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, Revenue & Customs (RoI) and the Food Standards Agency. This taskforce targets, investigates and prosecutes serious rural crime, often with a cross border dimension including livestock theft and smuggling.
Enforcement activities to ensure compliance with our strict animal traceability regulations (Identification, Registration & Movement – IRM) through enforcement cattle identification inspections (CIIs); unidentified livestock seizures and destruction; animal DNA checks on farms and at abattoirs; and criminal investigations and prosecutions for breaches of IRM Regulations.
The Department also funds the charity Rural Support which provides both advice and support to rural communities through a number of measures including:
A support line which regularly deals with cases where rural crime has impacted both financially and personally in relation to anxiety and mental distress.
Regularly working with the PSNI at mart events and agricultural shows in regards to raising awareness and encouraging trailer/equipment marking in particular.
Proactively delivering key messages around rural crime through its social media platforms and website.
Developing a new online farming resources hub (due for launch in the coming weeks) – supported by DAERA and in partnership with HSENI – which will have a section on rural crime and ways to minimise risk.