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Cases of agricultural crime in NI have hit a new low, the latest figures from the PSNI indicate.
There were 385 agricultural crimes reported to police in the 12 months to the end of March 2020, representing a 4% decline year on year.
It is part of a gradual reduction in crime related to farming over the past decade. The total number of incidents has more than halved since 2013-2014 when 870 agricultural crimes were reported to the PSNI.
The lowest monthly total during 2019-2020 was 21 cases recorded in both June 2019 and March 2020. The highest number of farm crime incidents was in February 2020 when 39 cases were reported.
In total, agricultural crime represented 1.3% of all cases of burglary, robbery and theft reported to the PSNI during 2019-2020.
Comparing agricultural crime across the 11 policing districts in NI, Newry, Mourne and Down had the highest number of cases with 57 incidents, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon had 56 and Mid-Ulster had 53 cases.
Decline
Figures from the PSNI also show that general cases of burglary, robbery and theft in rural areas has continued to decline. In 2019-2020, there were 5,302 rural crimes reported to police, representing a 6% drop year on year.
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