Federated Farmers leader wants farmers to report rural crime

Federated Farmers leader wants farmers to report rural crimes

Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre Industry Group Chair Rick Powdrell says farmers aren’t diligent enough in reporting stock thefts from their properties.

“Unfortunately they might think the police aren’t interested or are too hard pressed to investigate,” he told the Meat and Fibre Council meeting in Wellington today.

“Federated Farmers surveyed members and our farmers have told us they don’t bother to report almost two-thirds of stock thefts.”

“But a lack of police interest, or their failure to solve a crime, isn’t the full story. Until rural people are prepared to report all the incidents, the police do not have an accurate knowledge of the size of the problem or where the bad hotspots are.”

“Federated Farmers are working with Police on preventing rural crime and they are appealing to our members to provide information that gives them a bigger picture and better chance of apprehending the offender and put a break on that offender’s operation.”

“Every time you don’t report a theft or vandalism on your property makes the next crime easier to commit for the same criminal or anyone else.”

He told delegates that the estimated $120 million loss to the industry each year from stock thefts should be a significant enough incentive to change and improve farmers’ reporting behaviour in this space.

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