Upsurge in rural crime and dog attacks on sheep dominate Offaly IFA meeting

Thefts of livestock, machinery, tools and fuel as well as dog attacks on sheep were among the issues which dominated the January meeting of the executive of Offaly IFA recently.

Expert speakers from the association and the Gardai highlighted ongoing crime issues and steps which should be taken to avoid becoming a victim of crime.

Brian Carey, IFA's Crime Prevention Executive, spoke about the association's interaction on the issue with local communities, the Gardai, the Minister for Justice, the Policing Authority and the Commission on the Future of Policing.

He revealed the IFA was involved with the National Rural Safety Forum and detailed its work to date.

Mr Carey also gave a detailed outline of the current trends in crime in rural areas and the ongoing difficulties landowners have in dealing with trespassers and lurchers.

As well as burglaries farmers had to contend with bogus traders and callers, drone operations, threats and intimidation from trespassers, text threats and online fraud and arson attacks.

He said the upsurge in assaults had resulted in a meeting between the IFA and the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, prior to her maternity leave.

The IFA crime prevention chief said that all suspicious activities should be reported to 999/ 112 and not to local garda stations.

Garda Crime Prevention Officer of Laois/ Offaly, Sgt Graham Kavanagh, gave examples of practical steps which can be taken by farmers and land owners to avoid becoming victims of crime.

These included – locking up and lighting up your yard, using alarms, not leaving keys in machinery or vehicles, erection of warning signage and the use of trackers on high value machinery.

He urged farmers not to engage with trespassers, to be observant at all times and to report suspicious activity to the Gardai.

The importance of farmers marking their property with eircodes and using the local authority property marking services was stressed by James O'Neill of Property Marking Ireland.

He also stressed the importance of community signage and said this has resulted in a huge drop in thefts in tested areas.

The meeting also discussed climate action and the new nitrates programme as well as local issues.