16/05/2013
PSNI Rural Crime Unit Announced
A new 'Rural Crime Unit' is to be formed within the PSNI, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Justice Minister David Ford made the announcement at this year's Balmoral Show, alongside Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie and Martin Malone from agri-insurers NFU Mutual.
He said: "Northern Ireland is mostly rural and the agricultural industry has a significant role to the play in our economy. Unfortunately there are those who target these important businesses, which can have a devastating impact on farmers, their families and their local community. It is not just the financial impact on the business.
"This investment from my Department and NFU Mutual will enable a Rural Crime Unit to be formed within the PSNI, which will include an analyst and an officer, who will focus exclusively on rural crime to provide a coordinated province-wide response to the issue, working with local teams.
"I want to thank the Business Crime Partnership for taking this important piece of work forward. Strong partnership working is key to addressing community safety issues and this new Unit shows how the PSNI, the public and private sectors are all working together to tackle the issues which affect communities across Northern Ireland."
Speaking about the initiative Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said: "We welcome the establishment of the Rural Crime Unit. This will enable us to dedicate staff within PSNI to analysing trends in rural crime.
"The Police Service has numerous initiatives in place, across Northern Ireland, to help prevent and detect agricultural crime including our Farmwatch scheme. This initiative is important in helping to prevent thefts from the rural community and to build even closer relationships between the PSNI and the farming community.
"The prevention and detection of rural and agricultural crime continues on a daily basis right across Northern Ireland. The rural community needs our support and the introduction of the new Unit will allow us to be more focused and to advise us where resources can be targeted to best effect."
(IT/CD)
Justice Minister David Ford made the announcement at this year's Balmoral Show, alongside Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie and Martin Malone from agri-insurers NFU Mutual.
He said: "Northern Ireland is mostly rural and the agricultural industry has a significant role to the play in our economy. Unfortunately there are those who target these important businesses, which can have a devastating impact on farmers, their families and their local community. It is not just the financial impact on the business.
"This investment from my Department and NFU Mutual will enable a Rural Crime Unit to be formed within the PSNI, which will include an analyst and an officer, who will focus exclusively on rural crime to provide a coordinated province-wide response to the issue, working with local teams.
"I want to thank the Business Crime Partnership for taking this important piece of work forward. Strong partnership working is key to addressing community safety issues and this new Unit shows how the PSNI, the public and private sectors are all working together to tackle the issues which affect communities across Northern Ireland."
Speaking about the initiative Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said: "We welcome the establishment of the Rural Crime Unit. This will enable us to dedicate staff within PSNI to analysing trends in rural crime.
"The Police Service has numerous initiatives in place, across Northern Ireland, to help prevent and detect agricultural crime including our Farmwatch scheme. This initiative is important in helping to prevent thefts from the rural community and to build even closer relationships between the PSNI and the farming community.
"The prevention and detection of rural and agricultural crime continues on a daily basis right across Northern Ireland. The rural community needs our support and the introduction of the new Unit will allow us to be more focused and to advise us where resources can be targeted to best effect."
(IT/CD)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 September 2024
New Rural Crime Awareness Campaign Launched
A new digital awareness campaign to support rural communities across Northern Ireland has been launched by the PSNI and the Rural Crime Partnership group to mark Rural Crime Week NI 2024 – Monday 23rd to Friday 27th September.
New Rural Crime Awareness Campaign Launched
A new digital awareness campaign to support rural communities across Northern Ireland has been launched by the PSNI and the Rural Crime Partnership group to mark Rural Crime Week NI 2024 – Monday 23rd to Friday 27th September.
12 April 2017
Campaign To Tackle Rural Crime Launched
A new campaign to tackle agricultural and rural crime in Northern Ireland has beenand aims to reduce crime in rural communities.
Campaign To Tackle Rural Crime Launched
A new campaign to tackle agricultural and rural crime in Northern Ireland has beenand aims to reduce crime in rural communities.
29 April 2002
Trimble launches Lisburn rural development strategy
"Northern Ireland’s rural communities are an essential part of our way of life and must be encouraged and assisted," according to the First Minister, David Trimble.
Trimble launches Lisburn rural development strategy
"Northern Ireland’s rural communities are an essential part of our way of life and must be encouraged and assisted," according to the First Minister, David Trimble.
03 August 2022
Vigilance Needed To Tackle Rural Crime – DUP
The DUP has called for vigilance to tackle rural crime, following the release of the NFUs Rural Crime Report 2022. The report showed a fall of over 33% in the number of incidents over the last 12 months in Northern Ireland, but that the rural crime in Northern Ireland in 2021 was valued at £1.7m.
Vigilance Needed To Tackle Rural Crime – DUP
The DUP has called for vigilance to tackle rural crime, following the release of the NFUs Rural Crime Report 2022. The report showed a fall of over 33% in the number of incidents over the last 12 months in Northern Ireland, but that the rural crime in Northern Ireland in 2021 was valued at £1.7m.
11 May 2023
PSNI Launches Rural And Wildlife Crime Prevention Campaign
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched a five-week long policing operation to combat rural and wildlife crime. The operation, which began today, Wednesday 10th May and will run until Sunday 18th June, aims to raise awareness of crime prevention measures.
PSNI Launches Rural And Wildlife Crime Prevention Campaign
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched a five-week long policing operation to combat rural and wildlife crime. The operation, which began today, Wednesday 10th May and will run until Sunday 18th June, aims to raise awareness of crime prevention measures.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.