Prison gangs stealing sheep to produce a black-market commerce in meat are actually nabbing different animals from farms, together with pigs and even cows.
A report from business watchdogs, together with Meals Requirements Scotland (FSS), mentioned crooks have been diversifying their actions as they appear to use weaknesses within the nation’s provide chain.
Livestock fear: Cows, in addition to sheep, are actually being focused and stolen by legal gangs
The company mentioned it has recognized organised crime teams concerned within the theft of butchered meat in addition to stay animals.
The information comes after a spate of high-profile thefts from farms, together with a flock of 40 sheep that was stolen in Fossoway, Kinross-shire, through the summer season.
Gangs concerned in rural theft are even feared to be utilizing drones to scope out farms they plan to raid.
Hannah Binns of insurer NFU Mutual mentioned: ‘Livestock theft is devastating for farmers.
In addition to the plain impression on farming companies, a theft might be vastly disruptive to necessary breeding strains and leaves a farmer having to supply and buy new livestock.’
Meals Requirements Scotland mentioned organised crime teams are concerned within the theft of stay animals
Particulars of the criminals focusing on livestock are contained within the 2024 Meals Crime Strategic Evaluation compiled by the UK Meals Requirements Company (FSA) and FSS.
The evaluation outlines rising threats, together with the involvement of business insiders utilizing their data to commit and conceal crimes.
It states that ‘acquisitive crime throughout the meals business stays targeted on livestock thefts’ with the animals stolen usually occurring to be illegally slaughtered and bought on the black market.
It mentioned that whereas its earlier report in 2020 famous thefts of sheep, lambs and shellfish, ‘there was a broadening of species focused for thefts, with cows and pigs now additionally that includes’.
Throughout the UK, livestock theft is on the rise, with the newest figures displaying £2.7million value of sheep, cattle and pigs have been stolen final 12 months – a four-year excessive. And the true scale of the issue could possibly be a lot increased.
In its report, the FSS mentioned it believes livestock theft is under-reported and that incidents ‘are sometimes not recognized or reported till animals are gathered from fields for winter’, limiting ‘investigative alternatives’.
The company additionally admitted ‘vital intelligence gaps’ stay concerning the routes utilized by criminals to get stolen animals into the meals chain.
Nevertheless, it mentioned it has gained data on some elements of the ways utilized by crooks, together with the abuse of animal identification methods to promote stolen sheep, pigs and cows.
Inspector Jordan Low, from Police Scotland’s Rural and Acquisitive Crime Unit, mentioned: ‘In comparison with the remainder of the UK, the theft of livestock stays comparatively low in Scotland. The place we encounter incidents of livestock theft we’re dedicated to figuring out these accountable and bringing them to justice.’
