AQW 20307/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 11/06/2021
Answered On Date: 24/06/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for a breakdown of funding available to farmers in Northern Ireland to assist in the prevention of rural crime.

Answer:

My Department does not provide any direct funding to farmers to assist in the prevention of rural crime. However DAERA does contribute to rural crime prevention through funding the charity Rural Support and through the activities of the Department’s Welfare & Enforcement Branch in relation to livestock crime.

Rural Support provides both advice and support to rural communities through a number of measures including:

A support line which 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.

My Department’s Welfare & Enforcement Branch has a lead role in relation to tackling livestock crime through collaboration with the PSNI and other agencies; providing training, advice and communications; and taking enforcement measures including livestock seizures and prosecutions.