DNA tags help Scots Borders farms battle rural crime
Thieves beware: PC NIck Walker (left) with representatives from NFUS, local police and fire and rescue services A rural forensic marking scheme is being launched in the Scottish Borders to deter criminals from targeting farms.
About 200 farms spread across the borders will benefit from the new SelectaDNA marking scheme, which police say will transform them into high-tech “forensic farms”.
SelectaDNA is a traceable forensic marking solution with a unique DNA code that can be easily applied to farm equipment, such as tractors, quad bikes, 4×4 vehicles and power tools. The DNA code can even be applied to livestock.
See also: Farmers targeted as rural crime sweeps across Scotland
Items stolen and recovered by police that have been marked can be easily traced back to individual farms.
NFU Scotland is assisting Police Scotland to select farms by identifying those that have previously been targeted by criminals and would benefit from property marking.
Officers will begin to contact farms in the borders to offer the kits in late September.
The force has teamed up with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to deliver the kits and offer farm fire safety and crime prevention advice.
PC Nick Walker, of Police Scotland, said the use of warning signage and window stickers would be used to deter thieves, warning valuable items have been marked.
“We are determined to target thieves wherever they operate to ensure that our rural communities are safe from those trying to profit from criminal gain,” added PC Walker.
Insurer NFU Mutual said rural crime cost the Scottish countryside £1.8m in 2014, down from £1.9m in 2013.
Items most commonly targeted by thieves included quad bikes, tools and livestock, the insurer’s data found.