Proactive approach to tackling fly-grazing

Officers are offering microchipping and castration as they tackle the issue

POLICE in Northumberland are stepping up measures to tackle fly-grazing horses, after receiving up to two call-outs per day.

Bishop Auckland is facing a “huge problem”, with 765 calls on dumped equines in the past year.

While fly-grazing often comes under the remit of local councils, it becomes a police matter when animals stray on to roads. Owners can be prosecuted or served a warning notice if their behaviour is deemed anti-social — but it is often impossible to identify them.

“We’ve been doing a series of things to tackle the problem,” said Durham Constabulary inspector Andy Reeves. “There has been target-hardening around fields; we take fences down where we don’t want them or repair them. Fields have also been ploughed to make them unsuitable for horses.

“We’ve also engaged with the local travelling community. A few people are happy to get their horses chipped, but it’s key to get as many chipped as we can.”

The force is looking for funding to expand the free microchipping programme, and is trying to assess local interest.

“Most responsible owners have microchipped and passported, but we wouldn’t want one of their horses to get on a road and have them prosecuted,” Mr Reeves said. “We can’t have them not given the same options and opportunities.”

Microchipping is mandatory for all horses born since 2009; to be extended to all equines in England from October 2020.

But as well as lawbreakers, police have other issues.

“The horses are not used to the public and there’s a need for training using scanners and knowing where to look for the chip,” Mr Reeves said. “We’d need support from the British Horse Society (BHS) or a horse welfare charity — who we do engage with.

“There have been previous seizures of horses and we might have to go ahead with another one. October and November is when ponies start to wander.

“If we seize them, we have to hold them so long under law and we always try to rehome them, but it’s not always possible.”

Mr Reeves said the force is also looking at providing castration.

World Horse Welfare deputy chief executive Tony Tyler said it is positive to see the police taking such “proactive” action.

“We have helped the BHS and RSPCA run microchipping and castration days elsewhere, which are effective in improving equine welfare, and an important way to engage communities that own the horses,” he said.ÒWith other welfare agencies, we will help police in Bishop Auckland with microchipping and castration, and look forward to positive results.”

Anyone interested in microchipping should email horse.project@durham.pnn. police.uk with their details and how many horses need chipping.