To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail any discussions he has had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on steps to reduce (i) agricultural equipment theft; (ii) livestock theft; and (iii) other rural crime.

I have not had any discussions with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) on steps to reduce rural crime, which can include agricultural equipment and livestock theft.

However, my Department’s Welfare and Enforcement Branch (WEB) liaises very closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Department of Justice (DOH) who have primary responsibility for preventing and detecting rural crime in Northern Ireland. WEB represents DAERA in a number of strategic and operational rural crime prevention, related groups.

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.

Agricultural and rural crime covers burglary, robbery and theft offences where the property or vehicles stolen have an agricultural link (e.g. farm equipment, agricultural vehicles, livestock) or where the location was agricultural (e.g. farm, farmhouse). The latest PSNI statistics on agricultural and rural crime are available at: Agricultural and Rural Crime in Northern Ireland Update to 31st March 2021 (psni.police.uk)

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 livestock market 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.