A forensic DNA marking kit will be used to tag agricultural machinery, tools and equipment to tackle rural crime.
The newly-formed Northumberland Partnership Against Rural Crime (NPARC) has teamed up with NFU Mutual and SelectaDNA to roll out the new marking system at an event in Hexham next week.
Farmers and rural communities are invited to attend Hexham Auction Mart on June 13 to have their all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), trailers and other agricultural equipment marked with an invisible DNA code.
READ MORE: Scene of devastation after huge blaze at Newcastle high-rise flat sparked by toaster
The move will allow police to spot any stolen marked property that thieves may be attempting to sell on – and identify its rightful owner.
Representatives from NPARC, the new multi-agency project led by the Force’s Rural Policing Team, will also be on hand to offer crime prevention advice with neighbourhood officers there to answer any concerns around rural crime.
Sergeant Calum Meikle, of Northumbria Police, said: “Protecting our rural communities is a priority and this is a significant boost in our ongoing fight against rural crime.
“We are inviting our rural communities to come to the event in Hexham next week with any ATVs, quad bikes, trailers and other valuable equipment that could be the target of thieves.
“We will then be able to mark their equipment with a specialist unique invisible code which will help us identify stolen property, return it to the owners and importantly take swift action against thieves preying on our rural communities.
“Through NPARC we have big plans in the pipeline over the coming months to maintain the positive momentum as we look to detect and prevent rural crime.
“We are also absolutely delighted to have recently welcomed our newest Rural Crime Volunteers, a team of rural residents who feed directly into us about anything that looks unusual. They do an absolutely amazing job and we are so fortunate to have them.”
NPARC is made up by a number of partners including the Force’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.
The joint initiative was set up after Northumbria became the first force in the country to be awarded Safer Streets funding specifically to fight rural crime, which was secured by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said: “As well as fighting and preventing crime, it’s important that we are helping farmers and their families to better protect themselves from being targeted by criminals too.
"Anything that helps us win the battle against farm machinery thefts is worth investing in and promoting across our rural communities.
"This is just one of a range of collaborative initiatives and policing operations being rolled out across Northumberland as part of determined efforts to deter criminal activity and I will continue to monitor progress.”
NFU Mutual Bob Henderson, who leads NFU Mutual’s Agricultural Engineering Field Team, said: “Rural crime is hugely disruptive, distressing and costly to Northumbria’s farming community, and we are determined to do all we can to stamp it out.
“We’re delighted to team up with NPARC and SelectaDNA to roll out this new marking system.
"When we supported a similar initiative in Scotland, we found property marking was successful at deterring farm thieves, driving down theft incidents in areas taking part in the marking scheme."
To book a space at the DNA marking event next week in Hexham, please email ruralnorthumberlandmailbox@northumbria.pnn.police.uk
READ MORE:
