The PSNI has issued a request on social media to the driver of a blue tractor who “may have been involved in an RTC (road traffic collision) this morning (Thursday, September 26) in Co. Armagh.
The Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon neighbourhood policing teams posted the request “to speak with the driver of a blue tractor who may have been involved in an RTC on the Dunesmullan Road, Markethill today at approximately 10:30 hours”.
Separately the division today also issued a warning to farmers to “give some thought to the security of their livestock”.
The PSNI has advised farmers keep “records of stock numbers and making regular checks to ensure all is in order”.
“Farmers should also record the colour and location of dye markings.
“Access to fields should not be overlooked either and gates leading to fields should be securely locked at all times,” it stated.
PSNI
The PSNI has been involved in a number of operations this week across Northern Ireland as part of the Rural Crime Week NI 2024 initiative.
Along with other organisations in the Rural Crime Partnership (RCP) group, the PSNI has been highlighting this week how they are tackling rural crime.
The RCP also includes the Department of Justice (DoJ), Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFC), Police and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSP) and the Federation of Small Businesses and NFU Mutual.
Earlier this week Banbridge Neighbourhood Policing Team carried out an operation with DAERA which included vehicle checks as part of a “proactive operation in the rural community” during which various agricultural vehicles and livestock were also inspected.
According to the PSNI Rural Crime Lead, Superintendent Johnston McDowell, rural crime is a huge priority for police and it is “a much wider issue than plant theft, livestock theft, cold-calling and burglaries”.
“Officers in local districts work proactively within the communities they serve alongside partner agencies at a local level to address rural crime, and the work of our local officers is often supplemented by officers from specialist departments, including Roads Policing and Organised Crime Branch, who work with counterparts in other agencies and cross border with An Gardaí Siochanna to combat organised criminality,” he said.
This week the Armagh Neighbourhood Policing Team also highlighted that it had conducted a number of operations with cross border colleagues from An Garda Síochána Cavan/Monaghan as part of Rural Crime Week NI 2024
