East Londonderry farmers deserve stronger protection from rural crime
East Londonderry MLA Claire Sugden has called for stronger action to tackle rural crime after receiving a response from the Justice Minister confirming that no formal assessment has been made of whether current detection and prosecution rates are acting as an effective deterrent to offences such as livestock theft, agricultural vehicle theft and quad bike theft.
"Agriculture is the backbone of many communities across East Londonderry, yet too many farmers continue to live with the fear that expensive machinery, livestock or equipment could be stolen with little chance of those responsible being brought to justice. Rural crime has a real financial and emotional impact on families who are already facing significant pressures,” she said.
"I asked these questions because farmers deserve to know that the justice system is working for them. While I welcome the work being done through cross-border policing initiatives, I am concerned that no formal assessment has been made of whether current detection and prosecution rates are actually deterring offenders. If we don't measure what is working, it becomes much harder to improve it.
"People living in our rural communities often feel isolated when crime happens. They want to see visible policing, effective investigations and meaningful consequences for those who target farms and rural businesses. That is essential if we are to restore confidence and send a clear message that rural crime will not be tolerated.
"Farmers across East Londonderry work incredibly hard to keep their businesses going and they deserve the same level of protection and attention as any other community. I will continue pressing for answers and for stronger action where it is needed."