Police beef up farm theft response
POLICE officers from across Scotland are being trained on how to identify stolen agricultural plant and vehicles.
In the second such training session this year, more than 70 police officers from across the country attended the training course at Auchterarder.
Priorities
The theft of agricultural vehicles is one of the key priorities identified by the SPARC (Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime) group and quad bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and trailers are the most common items to be stolen.
Training was being provided by the National Agricultural Vehicle Intelligence Service alongside an agricultural vehicle specialist from NFU Mutual, which is funding the training.
Inspector Jane Don- aldson, Police Scot- land’s rural crime co-ordinator, said: ‘Our focus on rural vehicle crime has already seen an overall reduction in the theft of quads and ATVs, and significant reductions in previous hot-spot areas of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. We acknowledge, however, that the theft of a vehicle routinely used as part of a business will have a significant impact on the day-to-day productivity of that enterprise.
‘We are committed to reducing these thefts further and ensuring the way we investigate these crimes is consistent and reflects best practice.’
Clive Harris, NFU Mutual’s agricultural vehicle security specialist, said: ‘Working in partnership with Police Scotland is enabling us to share our experience as the insurer of most of Scotland’s farmers to help stop farm vehicles being stolen – and bring thieves to justice.’