Rustling of farm stock cost the industry £2.3m in past year
FIGURES released by rural insurer NFU Mutual reveal that farm animals worth an estimated £2.3m were stolen from UK farms last year.
That makes rustling one of the most costly crimes for British farmers after vehicle and machinery theft.
Although the pandemic saw the cost of rustling in the UK decrease by a quarter, in the South West region the cost of animals stolen rose by more than a third to an estimated £320,000.
In the Midlands a sharp fall of 44% in 2020 followed the successful prosecution of livestock thieves who horrified farmers and the public in 2019 by barbarically slaughtering large numbers sheep in fields in Northamptonshire and leaving their remains behind.
Rebecca Davidson, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU
Mutual, said: “Last year’s overall fall is encouraging news to an industry which has worked hard through the pandemic to keep the nation fed.
“Tougher police enforcement certainly seems to have taken effect and the coronavirus restrictions may have also deterred criminals who would have been easier to detect during lockdown.
“However, the latest figures from NFU Mutual’s claims are not a reason for complacency and we are deeply concerned this crime continues – even at a time of a health crisis.
“Modern rustling is a largescale, organised crime, causing suffering to animals, adding financial pressures to farmers and putting public health at risk.
“We are worried that when movement restrictions ease there could be a resurgence as thieves target the countryside again.
“We are urging farmers to remain vigilant and check stock regularly.
“As well as causing untold suffering to ewes, who
may be in lamb when they are stolen, rustling is causing high levels of anxiety for farmers who have built up their flocks over many years.”
To avoid buying unsafe stolen meat which has been slaughtered illegally, NFU
Mutual advises members of the public not to buy meat from unusual sources and to look for the Red Tractor logo.