NFU Mutual provides funds for rural security scheme

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• Forensic marking scheme funded by NFU Mutual shown to deter farm thieves
• NFU Mutual additional funding will enable Police Scotland to widen scheme after successful trial
• SelectaDNA marking enables stolen farm property to be identified across the world

A farm property marking scheme has proved so successful at reducing rural crime in areas of Scotland that NFU Mutual is providing additional funding to assist rolling out the initiative in other parts of Scotland.

Police Scotland has reported that a trial of SelectaDNA marking on South Lanarkshire farms was a huge success, with repeat thefts on farms previously targeted by thieves almost eliminated.

The scheme uses a forensic liquid with a DNA code which can be ‘read’ by police to identify property suspected of being stolen. It has been shown to both deter thieves and aid recovery of stolen machinery and tools.

NFU Mutual initially funded the SelectaDNA kits for the trial and is now providing an additional £2,000 for the roll-out, taking its total funding up to £6,000. This investment is part of the leading rural insurer’s funding of more than £400,000 for Rural Crime initiatives across the UK.

It will enable Police Scotland to provide kits in areas which are suffering repeat rural thefts including the Scottish Borders, Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire.

NFU Mutual is providing the funding as part of its ongoing support for the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC).

NFU Mutual Scotland Manager Mark McBrearty said: “Rural crime is hugely disruptive to Scotland’s farming community, and we are determined to do all we can to stamp it out.

“We’re delighted that SelectaDNA marking is proving so effective at reducing thefts from farms and are backing the speedy roll-out of the scheme by providing additional kits for distributions to Scottish farms.

“Since Police Scotland set up SPARC five years ago to bring together all those involved in the fight against rural crime, we’ve put our full backing into the initiative.”

Police Inspector Alan Dron, Scotland’s National Rural Crime Coordinator, said: “SelectaDNA is proving to be an excellent addition to the numerous initiatives and tactics we utilise when trying to prevent, reduce and tackle rural crime throughout Scotland.

“NFU Mutual’s additional funding means we can deploy yet more kits quickly and in other parts of Scotland, where thieves would potentially target agricultural and forestry machinery, plant, quad bikes, other all-terrain vehicles and expensive tools.”

Farmers, crofters and land owners keen to protect their tools and vehicles with SelectaDNA should contact their local Partnership Against Rural Crime group on how to obtain a kit.

For more information on rural crime trends and advice, visit: www.nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime

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For further information and photographs please contact:

Hannah Binns, Rural Affairs Specialist

07779 992619

hannah_binns@nfumutual.co.uk

About NFU Mutual:

NFU Mutual offers a wide range of products, including general insurance, life, pensions, and investments. These products and services are delivered through our network of NFU Mutual Agent offices, as well as through our direct sales and service centres. With 295 local businesses located in rural towns and villages throughout the UK, NFU Mutual has become part of the fabric of rural life and remains committed to serving the needs of our members nationwide.

NFU Mutual is proud to deliver more than simply insurance. Making farming safer, supporting rural initiatives across the UK and helping to look after the environment are just some of the ways we do that. To find out more about everything we do to support our communities, visit https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/about-us/responsible-business

About SPARC

SPARC is a multi-agency partnership involving key organisations collectively working together to prevent, reduce and tackle rural crime.