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Police have conducted a number of proactive checks on livestock marts across Northern Ireland in a bid to tackle rural crime.
Rural and agricultural crime is a serious issue and police understand the concerns of those who have been directly involved. It is important to stress that the PSNI takes a robust approach in tackling all crime across Northern Ireland, including those which affect the rural community.
The operation was part of a multi-agency initiative, which has been supported by officers across four of the PSNI’s policing districts in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in Republic of Ireland and the Department of Health’s Medicines Regulatory Group.
During the week-long operation, which ran from September 16th until the 21st, Police, along with partner agencies, attended marts in Clogher, Armoy, Ballymena, Markethill, Camlough, Keady, Rathfriland and Hilltown. An Garda Síochána attended a mart at Ballybay in Co. Monaghan.
During the multi-agency initiative, officers from DARD and the PSNI took the opportunity to check livestock documentation, speak to farmers about farm security and offer any assistance from the PSNI crime prevention officer in regards to a farm security inspection. Officials from the Medicines Regulatory Group were also on hand to offer support regarding the use of illegal and counterfeit veterinary medicines.
Police understand that people affected by this type of crime suffer emotional distress, not least because it is often not only their business which is being affected, but home also. This often has a direct impact on their livelihood. Tackling this crime is a priority for police.
Outlining the aims of the Police operation, Chief Inspector Jane Humphries said: We are committed to reducing rural and agricultural crime across Northern Ireland. Police want to work towards reducing opportunities for this type of crime by increasing public awareness, working with other partner agencies to identify ways of preventing crime, and targeting and arresting those committing such offences.
The prevention and detection of rural and agricultural crime continues on a day-to-day basis and local police have requested assistance from rural communities by asking them to report suspicious activity surrounding the movement of livestock.
Rural and agriculture crime affects more than just those people who are direct victims; it impacts on jobs, the environment and the economy. It is a concern for all of us and I would therefore ask for assistance from the public in providing information that may support us in continuing to prevent crime and arresting those individuals or gangs that carry out offences within rural communities.
This initiative is important in helping to prevent thefts from the rural community and to build even closer relationships between all agencies, the PSNI and the farming community. The prevention and detection of rural and agricultural crime continues every day to support the rural community and we are keen to work with them to address this issue. We are all too well aware that crime is currently a problem for farmers and we are working closely with partner agencies and the community to make it harder for thieves to steal from farms.
Danny Gray from the DARD Veterinary Service Enforcement Branch said: DARD welcomes this multi-agency initiative which is part of the ongoing fight against the scourge of Rural Crime. Veterinary Service Enforcement Branch has been working closely with the PSNI in a number of cases of livestock theft, sharing skills and knowledge, maintaining communication channels and conducting joint inspections and investigations.
Livestock theft can also undermine the traceability of cattle and sheep and is a real threat to the trade on which the industry depends, it also causes concern to many farmers in the remote rural areas where most of this theft takes place.
Head of the Medicines Regulatory Group, Prof Mike Mawhinney said: This initiative is further evidence of our determination to play our part in the battle against all aspects of rural crime and to highlight the issue of illegal and counterfeit veterinary medicines circulating within some rural communities. Incorrect use of veterinary medication of unknown origin or dubious quality compromises animal health, increases the risk of harmful residues in the food chain and raises the problem of unnecessary antibiotic resistance.
Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer with the Medicines Regulatory Group, Mr Peter Moore, added: The Department will continue to engage with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border in order to detect those involved in the misuse of veterinary medicines.
Anyone involved in animal health regularly using veterinary medicines is reminded that they should only source them from legal and reputable suppliers. Our advice is clear don’t be tempted to bypass the regulated supply system.
We thank the public for their continuing support and would appeal, particularly to those in our rural communities, to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity regarding the misuse of illegal or counterfeit veterinary medicines to us.
Chief Superintendent James Sheridan, Monaghan Garda station said "I wish to acknowledge the support and co-operation we have received from the farmers and local community in the border counties. An Garda Síochána and the Department of Agriculture have, and will continue to provide crime prevention advice and assistance to the farming community in order to combat these types of crime."
Chief Superintendent Sheridan continued "I also wish to acknowledge the continuing close co-operation provided by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the other agencies in Northern Ireland "
