The number of burglary and theft incidents occurring on NI farms has reached a new low, figures released by the PSNI confirm.

In the 12 months to the end of September 2021, there were 237 cases of agricultural crime reported to police in NI, which represents a 34% drop year on year.

The figure has more than halved within the past four years and is the lowest total seen since the PSNI started keeping records of agricultural crime in 2010.

The figures have fallen almost consistently over the past decade. In the 2020-2021 financial year, there were 291 agricultural crimes reported, compared to 937 cases back in 2010-2011.

Farmers are the eyes and ears of the countryside

According to PSNI Superintendent Brian Kee, the trend is due to a broad range of measures which have involved police working with the farming industry and wider rural community.

“Farmers are the eyes and ears of the countryside. It is very important that they report any suspicious activity to us,” Superintendent Kee told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“We would rather deal with nine out of 10 cases that turn out to be perfectly legal if it means there is one incident which prevents criminals stealing from a farm,” he said.

Superintendent Kee maintains that initiatives from the Rural Crime Partnership, such as trailer and quad marking events, as well as efforts to encourage farmers to install CCTV cameras and lock gates, have helped reduce agricultural crime rates.

Although incidents of burglary and theft on farms have fallen across all 11 policing districts in NI, the figures remain highest in areas near the border.

For example, the Newry, Mourne and Down policing district had the highest rate of agricultural crime in the latest figures, with 38 incidents reported in the 12 months to the end of September 2021.

Those districts around the border have probably seen the lion’s share of rural crime over the years

It is followed by the Armagh city, Banbridge and Craigavon district and the Fermanagh and Omagh district which both recorded 37 agricultural crimes over the period.

“Those districts around the border have probably seen the lion’s share of rural crime over the years. A lot of work has gone into those areas to push their figures down. There is cross border work that goes on between PSNI and our colleagues in An Garda Síochána,” Superintendent Kee said.

Station closures

In other parts of NI, there have been various concerns raised about the closure of rural police stations, but Superintendent Kee appeared confident that this would not have a detrimental impact on crime rates.

“It is police officers who are out patrolling rural areas that prevent crimes, not the number of police stations in any particular area,” he responded.

“In recent years, the chief constable has assigned an additional 400 officers to neighbourhood policing teams, and the vast majority of these teams are covering rural areas,” he added.