Specialist prosecutors are now following the money trail from the theft of farm equipment at the outset of agricultural crime investigations.
The Solicitor General for Scotland, Lesley Thomson, told Holyrood’s Justice Committee this week that prosecutors were committed to finding out if agricultural thefts were linked to serious organised crime.
Ms Thomson’s commitment to the committee follows last year’s review of agricultural theft, vandalism, fire- raising, housebreaking and worrying of livestock which was instigated by NFU Scotland.
In December the Crown Office confirmed a new approach would be taken to farm crime, including specialist training for prosecutors.
There was also a pledge to use Proceeds of Crime powers on offenders wherever possible.
The farming industry believes that many high-value items are stolen to order and exported abroad to Poland, Africa and Afghanistan.
Ms Thomson told the committee: “It is extremely important that you gather evidence about the full ‘business’ chain.
“What you are looking to target are not just those that are stealing to order but those at the top of the chain.
“What is then important is ensuring that the money trail is followed.
“That’s why these cases, if there are any which the police report to us, will be dealt with the same way we deal with other organised criminality in SOCD (serious and organised crime division) by ensuring the specialist prosecutors on the financial side are in at the start.”
Ms Thomson acknowledged isolated farmers may feel “that there is nobody who is going to pay attention if something happens”.
She added: “What was extremely important in bringing people together in the review was to ensure that there was confidence, as far as any victims of crime are concerned, that if anything like that occurs it will be taken seriously by law enforcement authorities and treated accordingly.”
An NFUS spokesman yesterday welcomed the Solicitor General’s comments.
He said: “ There has always been a suspicion that valuable equipment is being stolen to order and it’s important that prosecutors follow investigations through to the end point.
“Ms Thomson’s statement is an indication of how seriously she’s taking the issue of organised crime.”
There are also signs that a concerted effort to cut rural crime is starting to yield results.
In a submission to the Justice Committee, Police Scotland said: “In early 2014, the theft of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles was increasing in Scotland despite a downward trend elsewhere in the UK.
“I am pleased to report that, at the Sparc (Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime) meeting on January 26, members were advised, by NFU Mutual, that its claims data showed the partnership working driven and supported by Sparc is already showing what it described as ‘impressive results’.”
Delegates at next week’s NFU Scotland (NFUS) annual meeting in St Andrews will hear an update on rural crime from Chief Superintendent Gavin Robertson.