NFU Mutual to fund new officer to help tackle livestock theft
Date of alert:
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
Crime Ref:
Force:
National
NFU Mutual has announced it will fund a new officer to help tackle one of the costliest crimes to farming, livestock theft.
The new officer, Martin Beck, joins the ranks of the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) to tackle the crime, which cost an estimated £2.7 million in 2022.
Mr Beck, who has 30 years of policing experience in the field, will gather livestock theft-related intelligence across the UK.
He will work to spot and share trends, work with local police forces to build cases and help build prosecutions and secure convictions against criminals.
The appointment comes as UK livestock theft cost an estimated £2.7 million in 2022, according to the latest figures from NFU Mutual.
Matthew Screech, the insurer's lead on livestock theft, said it was one of the costliest crimes impacting farmers, with claims often involving over 50 sheep taken in a single raid.
