THE OFFICIAL launch of the Scottish Borders Partnership Against Rural Crime (SBPARC) took place at Kelso Ram Sales last week.

SBPARC brings together representatives from a range of organisations who have a vested interest in tackling crime that affects rural communities in the Borders including: Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Borders Council, NFU Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, SEPA, River Tweed Commission and the Scottish SPCA

It is expected that other representatives will join as the partnership develops. The overall aim is to work together to prevent and combat rural crime, utilising both the principles of SPARC’s Scottish Rural Crime Strategy 2019-2022 and local analysis to guide activity.

The Rural Crime Strategy sets out seven priorities for SPARC. These are: Agricultural Vehicle, Farm Machinery and Plant Theft, Equestrian Incidents, Fly Tipping, Fuel Theft, Heritage Crime, Livestock Offences and Poaching.

The strategy also sets out Action Plans from some of the agencies involved in SPARC on how each of these priorities will be tackled.

Chief Inspector Vinnie Fisher, Local Area Commander with Police Scotland said: “The economic loss caused by theft or damage can have significant consequences for individuals and businesses. Using information passed from the community enables us to develop the intelligence picture and focus our enforcement activity.

“We already know that cross border criminality occurs and often recces are undertaken before a crime occurs. Information on unannounced visits to farms or other isolated locations are of particular interest in the case of quad bike or machinery theft. There may be suspicious activity around fields and woodland associated with poaching or livestock theft.

“The more alert residents can be to what is going around them and do what they can to protect themselves and also let us know when they witness something of concern, the more we can do to support them. The establishment of the partnership is a significant step in that fight and Police Scotland is fully committed to what SBPARC is aiming to achieve.”

Councillor George Turnbull, Executive Member for Public Protection added: “With such a large geographic area and network of roads we need to work together in tackling this form of criminality which can also include fly tipping, the worrying of livestock and inconsiderate access to land. I welcome the launch of SBPARC and am confident it can greatly assist with efforts to tackle rural crime head-on in the Borders.”