LIVESTOCK theft is to be tackled by police in a rural crime campaign that starts today. 

The Rural Crime Community Intelligence Campaign is being run in partnership with the independent charity Crimestoppers with the aim of encouraging people to provide information in the fight against livestock theft.

Inspector Jo Mines, who currently leads the Rural Crime Team, said: “Livestock theft, and rural crime in general, affects the livelihoods of farmers, smallholders and rural businesses.”

Avon and Somerset police are asking rural communities to provide information and intelligence about suspected crime in their area.

People who are uncomfortable talking to the police are urged to get in touch with Crimestoppers anonymously with any information that might help.

In instances where information leads to an arrest and charge, people could qualify for a reward of £1000.

Gordon Chisholm, Regional Manager for Crimestoppers South West, said: “Many people think that we are part of the police or a TV programme but we are neither, we are an independent charity, which allows anyone to pass on information about crime anonymously.

“We cannot trace or record any call and we never ask for your name or where you live, no one will ever know where the information came from.”

Inspector Mines added that no information is too small or insignificant.

She said: “We want to hear from anyone who has information about any suspicious or potentially criminal activity in their area, for example - details of people/vehicles seen behaving suspiciously, vehicles moving livestock at odd times of the day or night, potentially stolen goods or animals being offered for sale either to the public or at markets, sightings of stolen vehicles we might put out an alert for."

The campaign launch event takes place today at 2pm at 8 Edgar Hall, Cary Court, Somerton, TA11 6SB.

Members of the farming community have been invited, and anyone living or working in our rural communities is very welcome to attend.