Tue 30 Jan 2024: Neighbourhood Policing Week - Rural Affairs Team engagement on Dartmoor National Park
From February, officers from Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Team will launch their annual campaign to highlight preventative measures to reduce attacks on livestock by dogs.
Livestock attacks all too often result in serious injury or death of sheep, but the dog does not have to make physical contact with the animal to cause it harm. Sheep being chased by dogs suffer from extreme stress long after the event. It is a criminal offence to allow a dog to chase or attack livestock and it has devastating consequences for livestock keepers, causing personal distress as well as significant financial costs.
Sadly, livestock attacks take place all year round however crime data does indicate a notable increase in reports in the spring/early summer time as the weather improves and as more people access the countryside, particularly during lambing.
Police are appealing to all dog owners to make sure they #TakeTheLead and ensure their dog is under proper control at all times in rural areas especially around livestock or in places where there is a likelihood of encountering livestock.
If you witness an attack on livestock, do not intervene, keep yourself safe and call 999. All other information relating to attacks on livestock should be reported to the police online or by calling 101.
Last updated 30/01/2024
