Specialist training for North East Police officers - enabling them to more effectively tackle livestock thefts estimated to cost more than £1.2m in the North East alone - will get underway next week.
The NFU has organised two training days that will focus specifically on the identification and movement regulations for sheep after it was revealed that an estimated 13,000 animals were stolen in the North East in 2014.
The training is designed to increase awareness of livestock theft among rural police officers and provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively question thieves stopped on the roads.
"It is not surprising that the police often feel ill-equipped to tackle sheep rustling, given that the regulations surrounding sheep identification and movement are quite complex," said NFU Northumberland and North Durham County Adviser Samantha Davies.
"But what is really encouraging is that this is something they want to address and that’s why they are working with us and our farmer members to implement this training initiative.
"The training will be very practical, showing officers what to look for on the sheep and how to use electronic readers for their ear tags.
"They will also gain basic sheep handling skills and learn about how and why sheep move at certain times of year.
"More than that though, it will look at the questions the police should ask anyone they stop with sheep in transit.
"Suggested answers are being provided by the NFU and as an added bonus a network of local farmers is being established who will be available to offer roadside assistance to officers should they need extra support."
Auction Marts at Darlington and Hexham are also getting involved, offering temporary emergency housing for sheep where the animals are seized by the police and it is not clear who they belong to.
Confidence to act decisively when confronting crime
Commenting, West Tynedale Neighbourhood Inspector Kevin Oates said the aim was to make sure rural and wildlife crime officers had the knowledge, skills and confidence to act decisively when confronted with a trailer full of sheep.
"It's essential our officers have the necessary skills to carry out sheep rustling investigations thoroughly.
"We know these types of crimes can hit our farmers hard, causing them real financial hardship," he said.
"It makes good sense for us to learn from farmers themselves as they have a great deal of specialist knowledge that they can pass on, to help us help them.
"While these types of incidents remain uncommon across Northumberland we want to make sure we can do all we can when they are reported to us."
The two training days will take place as follows:
• June 15 from 9.00am
Darlington Farmers Auction Mart, Clifton Rd, Darlington DL1 5DU
• June 16 from 9.00am
Hexham Mart, Tyne Green, Hexham NE46 3SG
