Farmers & rural communities invited to property marking event with £200,000 of machinery already tagged in rural crime initiative
More than £200,000 worth of agricultural machinery, tools and equipment has been marked with a forensic code as part of a police force's ongoing fight against rural crime.
The Northumberland Partnership Against Rural Crime (NPARC) was launched in December 2022 and recently teamed up with both NFU Mutual and SelectaDNA.
At a launch event in June, dozens of people had their all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), trailers and other agricultural equipment marked with an invisible DNA code.
The code helps police easily spot stolen property that thieves may be attempting to sell on and quickly identify rightful owners. So far more than £200,000 worth of rural equipment has been successfully marked with the unique, invisible code.
Officers are now urging more farmers and rural communities to come forward and attend a further tagging event later this month.
It will be held in Lucker, near Belford, on Monday, September 18th, between 9.30am and 3pm.
Coinciding with the start of National Rural Crime Week, the event will see representatives from NPARC – the new multi-agency project led by the Force’s Rural Policing Team – be on hand to offer crime prevention advice and respond to any concerns about rural crime.
Sergeant Calum Meikle, of Northumbria Police, said: “We have been delighted with the early response to these events and it’s great that a large amount of rural equipment has already been forensically marked.
“This technology is a significant step in our ongoing battle against rural crime – and I’d encourage anyone from our rural communities who has yet to do so to come along.
“The free events provide a great opportunity for farmers and owners to bring ATVs, quad bikes, trailers and any other valuable equipment that could be the target of thieves.
“We can then mark their equipment with a specialist unique invisible code which will help us identify any stolen property, take robust action against thieves and return those goods to their rightful owners."
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NPARC is a partnership involving various organisations including Northumbria Police’s Rural Policing Team, the National Farmers Union, NFU Mutual, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland National Park, Mountain Rescue, Forestry England and Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service.
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Hannah Binns, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “As the UK’s main insurer of farmers, we know that theft of agricultural vehicles and equipment is incredibly disruptive and causes additional pressures for farmers and their families.
“Combined with good farmyard security and effective policing, property marking is one of the best tools in the toolbox and we’re pleased to support this marking initiative to make it harder for criminals to operate in the countryside.”
To book a space at the DNA marking event in Lucker on September 18th, please email: ruralnorthumberlandmailbox@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
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