To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps she plans to take in relation to (i) the prevention of livestock thefts; and (ii) subsequent prosecutions in (a) East Londonderry; and (b) Northern Ireland.

The Department of Justice is a member of the Rural Crime Partnership (RCP), along with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Ulster Farmers’ Union, NFU Mutual, the Young Farmers’ Club of Ulster, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DEARA) and Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs). The partnership shares information on emerging or reoccurring crimes, and will continue to do so, to develop a coordinated response and take preventive action to issues such as livestock theft.

There has been recent engagement between PSNI and relevant partners on this issue. The policing response however is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board. You may therefore wish to direct your question to the PSNI.