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Liberals To Return Farmer Confidence On Rural CrimeA Liberal Government would tackle the growing problem of livestock theft, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today. By Phillip Davis - 28th August 2006 - Back to News Mr Davis said theft of livestock was costing farmers millions each year.
While Victorian police do the best with the resources they have, without a specific squad to investigate livestock thefts these crimes are going unsolved.
In fact, farmers are so fed up with having their livestock stolen and the police being powerless to track down the offenders, they have stopped reporting these crimes to police.
"Countless farmers throughout Victoria have been victims of livestock theft in the past 12 months, but many of them do not bother to report the crimes because police do not have the resources," Mr Davis said.
"Theft of livestock is equally the most predominant type of farm crime in Victoria, along with theft of machinery and equipment.[1]
"Country police have a huge range of responsibilities involving local policing and simply do not have the resources, time and in many cases the specialist skills required to investigate and prosecute livestock thefts.
"Once farm thefts have occurred, farmers are simply giving up hope of ever having their livestock returned.
"Meanwhile, livestock thieves are having a field day, stealing truck loads of stock without fear of being caught."
Mr Davis said a Liberal Government would reinstate the Stolen Livestock Squad.
"A Liberal Government’s Stolen Livestock Squad would investigate rural crimes including livestock theft – crimes that are currently swept under the carpet," he said.
"Regional investigators in the Squad will receive the specialised training and support needed to adequately investigate and solve rural crimes.
"A Liberal Government will restore farmers’ confidence in their local law enforcement, encouraging them to report rural crime to show offenders it will not be tolerated."
[1]
The Australian Institute of Criminology report ‘Farm Crime in Australia’ 2005
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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