Alex Easton MLA has today expressed concern for farmers across North Down after crime figures revealed in a NI Assembly question..
Speaking today Alex Easton MLA said:
“It is very sad and surprising to see that there is rural crime against our farmers in North Down, it is something we don’t hear about. Our farmers do so much for our community by supplying our food, and it is so disheartening to see that there are some who have targeted them with incidents of theft to their property.”
“It is important that as a rural community that people report any suspicious activities they see within the rural community especial around farms. Farm equipment is very expensive and cannot be replaced easily. We as a community must support our farmers, and report anything that is suspicious to the PSNI.”
Ends:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how many crimes on farms in North Down have been reported to his Department, over each of the last five years. While the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs works closely with the PSNI, DAERA is not responsible for collating statistics on crimes on farms. However the PSNI has provided the following data on crimes associated with “agricultural-based activity” in the Ards & North Down policing district: – 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 20 17 21 10 6 You should note however that the PSNI’s data includes not only crimes where the location was a farm, but may also include stolen property or vehicles with an agricultural link which occurred in another location. Sustainability at the heart of a living, working, active landscape valued by everyone. Further more detailed information, including the PSNI’s Statistics Branch’s quarterly bulletin on Agricultural and Rural Crime in Northern Ireland, may be found on the web-site – https://www.psni.police.uk/inside-psni/Statistics/policerecorded-crime-statistics/ EDWIN POOTS MLA Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
