Call For More To Be Done To Tackle Agriculture Crime

Sinn Fein has said more must be done to tackle the level of agriculture crime in Northern Ireland.

MLA Ian Milne made the call after figures by NFO Mutual revealed rural crime cost £2.5 million in NI last year.

He said: "Although there has been a substantial 15% drop in rural crime on the previous year, there can be no room for complacency as this is a phenomenon which is on the increase in other regions.

"The report from NFU Mutual also makes clear that the costs to individual farms are huge given the increasing expense of farming equipment. This is in turn feeding a growing fear of crime within the farming community and the fact that many farmers are resorting to costly security measures in order to try and protect their properties.

"The farming community and the agriculture economy play a central role in our society and the PSNI need to ensure that every possible measure is taken to ensure they are adequately protected."

(CD/LM)