Rural crime cost Cornwall and Devon £460,000 last year alone, report reveals
South West farmers are taking part in a new trial to combat animal thefts
Last updated 2nd Aug 2022
A new report has shown rural crime could be on the rise again, after the cost of thefts across Devon and Cornwall fell during the pandemic.
The NFU Mutual 2022 Rural Crime Report has revealed it has cost the counties an estimated £460,000 in 2021. Although the figure has shown a fall of 37% from the previous year, there are fears it is now starting to rise again in the South West and England.
Neil Cole, a farmer on Dartmoor, said: "We lose dozens of sheep annually – I would estimate that we have between 20 and 30 stolen each year. Sometimes, rarely, a few will turn up again but most of the time they don't.
"Hill farming is particularly challenging. For us, some of our flock is up to six miles from the farm in the middle of the moor. It's difficult to keep an accurate count and it's often only when we come to bring them in to shear or in autumn when we get them ready for ramming, that we are able to really assess how many are missing".
Now Neil has been using a paint which is difficult to remove to tag the horns of his sheep, to make his livestock identifiable if stolen and try to prevent them from being taken in the first place.
He continued: "Even after all these years, it still has a real emotional impact when our animals are taken – aside from the obvious financial cost.
"A lot of effort and hard work goes into caring for them and rearing them and then when you find that someone has just come along and taken your animals without a thought, it really does affect you; it's heart breaking.
"We have had all sorts of issues over the years. As well as the ongoing thefts, we've had everything from gates being left open and animals escaping to cars on the moor to motorists driving into cattle and deliberately running over sheep. We have also had to contend with the increasing problem of dog attacks on sheep".
As the cost of living crisis hits the countryside, the report suggests we are now seeing a rise again, with UK costs over 40% higher than the same period last year.
New trial to promote action against rural crime
A new trial is hoping to promote action to be taken to help other farmers affected livestock rustling, with marking their sheep being one of the things suggested to prevent people from stealing them under the Devon Livestock Initiative.
PC Martin Beck of the Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Team, said: "The response to the Devon Livestock Initiative has been fantastic and really highlights the importance of raising awareness of these issues and encouraging our communities to help farmers fight rural crime.
"There are many advances in the technology available to farmers to help them to keep their livestock safe from thieves and we will be exploring and trialling these options through our partnership with NFU Mutual. There are hopes in the future it will also be possible to use GPS trackers to trace animals that have been stolen. We also want to focus on how we can best aid the recovery of those animals that are taken".
Phoebe Ridley, South West Sales Development Manager for NFU Mutual, added: "Our latest UK claims figures warn that rural theft is quickly gathering momentum as criminals make up for time lost over the past two pandemic years. We’re advising rural people to review their security, to help prevent crime and disruption.
"Fortunately, efforts by Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Team, working with the farming community, has resulted in crimes being reported, criminals apprehended and stolen property recovered. We’re also seeing positive signs that rustling reduced last year thanks to joint working on the livestock theft initiative".
Farmers are also given gate signs under the scheme, which include the times that animals are normally moved.
Public who see sheep being moved outside of these times to call a displayed number for the local farmer or the police on 101 and report any other suspicious activity they might see.