Livestock carriers are in focus as Operation Stock Check was relaunched across the state this week. Photo: NSW Police.
NSW Police have relaunched an ongoing and proactive operation to prevent livestock theft, which aims to disrupt the movement of stolen stock throughout the state.
The Rural Crime Prevention Team relaunched Operation Stock Check on Monday (22 August).
The operation allows officers of all ranks to inspect vehicles carrying livestock to identify and target loads which may have been stolen.
With the relaunch, officers throughout the state will increase rural patrols targeting known transportation routes and livestock carrier inspections.
Rural Crime Prevention Team’s southern region coordinator Detective Sergeant Damien Nott said commodity price was a key contributing factor that directly affected livestock theft.
“The average market price of sheep and cattle has increased since 2019 and during the same period the NSW rural crime team have led the way to increase the livestock carrier inspection,” Det Sgt Nott said.
“The number of livestock incidents has decreased and it is a trend we haven’t seen in a long time. Operation Stock Check might be a contributing factor for that downward trend.
“Our commitment to rural industries is to prevent, disrupt and respond to rural crime and we believe it’s a strategy that is working.”
Det Sgt Nott said police would continue to use the strategy to reduce the risk of farmers becoming victims of rural crime.
From 2017 to June 2022, more than 21.7 million sheep and cattle were reported stolen in NSW.
“The figure is nominated as conservative because 80 per cent of rural crimes are not reported,” he said.
“[NSW Police Force] is committed to working with rural stakeholders and listening to their concerns and developing strategies together to try and get offenders who see our farmers as vulnerable.”
Det Sgt Nott said the trend of stock theft reported to police had decreased since the commencement of the Rural Crime Prevention Team in 2018.
“Fires, floods, and COVID-19 have impacted the figures,” he said.
The state rural crime coordinator, Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside, said Operation Stock Check was urging livestock carriers and farmers to always check their paperwork to ensure it is complete and accurate, ensuring their livestock is traceable.
“Operation Stock Check isn’t about targeting truck drivers, it’s about ensuring carriers and farmers are making the appropriate checks, including that the animals are fit to load so that when you are pulled over by police it is a simple check and you can go on your way,” Det Ch Insp Whiteside said.
“Livestock carriers can expect to see an increase in vehicle checks in an effort to disrupt the illegal transportation of stock, whether it be large trucks, small trucks, utilities, trailers or horse floats.”
Corporate sponsor for rural crime, western region commander, Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree APM said the NSW Police Force takes livestock theft extremely seriously due to the devastating impact it can have on farmers.
“This operation is one of a number of steps the NSW Police Force is taking to protect the livelihoods of our farmers, who have enough to deal with without having to worry about criminals stealing their stock,” Assistant Commissioner Greentree said.
“Officers will also be interacting with farmers and engaging with members of their rural communities to ensure they are protecting their stock in every way they can because prevention is key.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the State Government’s biggest increase in police numbers in more than 30 years had delivered an additional 10 rural crime investigators to help the Force stay ahead of the game and disrupt criminal activity before it occurs.
“We have more than doubled our Rural Crime Prevention Team over the past five years and now have 63 specialist investigators stationed across all corners of the state,” Mr Toole said.
“While rural crimes like stock theft may not dominate the headlines, they are a huge kick in the guts to our hardworking farmers and their families with the potential to cripple entire livelihoods. That’s why we’re ensuring police have the right resources to proactively run these operations and protect regional communities.”
The Rural Crime Prevention Team was created in late 2017 to strengthen the NSW Police Force’s focus on rural crime.
The team has since grown to 63 specialised officers dedicated to investigating rural crime, located at 26 regional areas in NSW.
Loading ...
