To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact of livestock and machinery theft on farm businesses and families.

Rural crime, particularly the theft of farmed animals, is a direct threat to the livelihood of our farmers and to the integrity of the traceability system which is vital in providing assurance on the safety, integrity and quality of our food. My Department takes this threat very seriously. Officials from my Department’s Veterinary Service Animal Health Group sit on the Rural Crime Partnership forum. Rural Crime Partnership is a valuable networking, information sharing and problem-solving forum established to help address rural agri-crime. The Department of Justice, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Policing and Community Safety Partnerships, Ulster Farmers’ Union, National Farmers’ Union Mutual, Federation of Small Businesses and the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster are also represented on the Rural Crime Partnership.