THE NFU has joined forces with Northumbria Police and Hexham Auction Mart to provide hands-on training to operational police officers to help them tackle sheep thefts.

The training sessions, held earlier this month, focused on sheep breeds, identification tags, movement records, on farm movements and general handling of livestock, and followed similar successful events held in 2016.

The training was delivered by Ian Cairns, a livestock farmer from Scots Gap, who appreciates the concern about sheep rustling in the area and the devastation it can cause to farming families.

Tynedale Neighbourhood Inspector Pam Bridges, who attended the training, said: “We appreciate the invaluable support provided by rural communities to help police tackle crime, including preventing and detecting offences committed by travelling criminals.

“This training will support operational police officers and staff in preventing and investigating the theft of livestock and other crimes affecting rural communities across Northumberland.

“I would like to thank farmer Ian Cairns for sharing his knowledge and providing practical advice as well as the NFU and Hexham Mart for providing the venue.”

NFU assistant group secretary Catherine Bowman added: “It’s not surprising police officers feel ill-equipped to tackle sheep rustling given the amount of regulations surrounding sheep identification and movement are complex.

“The main purpose of the training is to provide basic sheep handling skills and understanding of how and why farmers move sheep during certain times of year, as well as to provide confidence among officers to ask the correct questions in order to identify suspicious activity.”

Seventeen officers attended the training, including motor patrol officer PC Andy Donaldson and Sgt Anthony Pattison of the East Tynedale Neighbourhood Team.