Rural crime

A Fife farmer has been fined £2,000 after deliberately damaging a badger sett.

Protestors from anti-livestock lobby Animal Rebellion vandalised a number of high-end food retailers and country clothing stores as they held demonstrations across central London last weekend.

Dairy and farm hygiene chemical manufacture GEA Farm Technologies has been fined £40,000 after a large cloud of toxic chlorine was released into its factory in Wiltshire putting workers at risk.

A farmer has been left feeling ‘pretty sick’ after 116 Romney ewes, worth approximately £17,000, disappeared from his 460-strong flock, feared to have been slaughtered.

Rural thieves are targeting farm pick-up trucks, with more than twice as many vehicles stolen each month compared to last year, rural insurer NFU Mutual has warned. 

A dairy farm has been fined £52,650 after pleading guilty to several offences against animal health and welfare, animal by-products and feed legislation.

Dorset Police has launched an appeal for information after a farmer was assaulted by a dog owner while trying to protect his flock from an attack. 

A farmer has voiced his frustration with Cheshire Police for their ’ridiculously’ slow response to a report of 11 calves savaged by dogs.

The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC) is continuing its crackdown on livestock worrying as a ‘horrific’ attack in Kingussie saw dozens of lambs injured and killed.

Police in Lincolnshire are warning farmers to be vigilant following a series of fuel thefts in the area.