A senior police officer has flagged closer co-operation with Agriculture Victoria over farm crime, in particular livestock theft and traceability.
Agriculture Victoria said there had been four successful prosecutions for offences under the Livestock Disease Control Act, which sets out National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) requirements, since 2011.
But Superintendent Graham Banks said police met recently with Agriculture Victoria officials to discuss greater co-operation between the two bodies.
“We are revisiting the whole way we investigate farm crime and having a fresh conversation over what we do, and what our partners do,” Superintendent Banks said.
“We have a mutual responsibility to talk to each other and we are doing that.
“If we identify something we would certainly ring Agriculture Victoria and they will ring us.”
NLIS detection:
Superintendent Banks said the detection rate for NLIS offences probably fell short of the actual number of offences committed.
“A number of beasts have been stolen in that timeframe, and undoublty some of htose who have had tags removed,” Superintendent Banks said.
“It’s something we are aware of.”
He said police had several “avenues of inquiry” they could look at, in investigating such crimes but declined to elaborate on what they were.
In the latest NLIS related case, three Gippsland livestock agents avoided conviction after pleading guilty to charges relating to the movement of cattle.
Wellington Livestock principal Steven Boulton, Clayton William Kelly and Peter Rosenberg all pleaded guilty, in the Sale Magistrate’s Court, to various charges relating to cattle traceability under the NLIS.
They were ordered to pay a total of $12,000 to the RSPCA for failing to correctly record cattle movements.
Police investigations:
Mansfield Sergeant Matt Bennett said tags could fall off or get caught in fences.
“That’s understandable,” Sgt Bennett said.
“But if people are buying a lot of tags and don’t breed the animals themselves, clearly there is a gap somewhere.”
Police would investigate if they were tipped off.
“I know there have been some investigations where someone hasn’t been cunning in disposing of the tags properly,” he said.
‘They have tried to burn them, but remnants have been found.”
DNA testing had also proved very successful in proving where animals came from, when they were missing tags.
Report immediately:
Casterton officer in charge Sergeant Darren Brown expressed frustration at the failure of farmers to report livestock theft.
He said a spate of sheep thefts in the area seemed to have abated but while no suspects had been identified, investigations were continuing.
“Quite a few thefts weren’t reported,” Sgt Brown said.
“We do regular patrols but the most important thing is that people need to report thefts.”
He said uniformed police worked with stock agents and detectives.
“I have contacted three farmers who didn’t report thefts, to find out why,” Sgt Brown said.
“They said ‘it’s hard to prove’ or “there’s not much we can do about it’.”
But he said police could find vital evidence on properties, where thefts had occurred.
“It’s very, very frustrating – they must report thefts.
‘It’s no good whingeing to people, saying this is happening, when the police don’t know about it.
“Even if they think it’s trivial, there could be something there which is a nexus to another crime – it gives us some direction.”
Sgt Brown said police patrols did check on suspicious vehicles and were stopping people found pulling trailers, at night.
“Let us know promptly, don’t hang onto it and report it in a fortnight’s time.”
