FARMERS CAN AID POLICE IN CASES OF SHEEP STEALING

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 September 1950, Page 7

FARMERS CAN AID POLICE IN CASES OF SHEEP STEALING

Several ways in which farmers could assist the police in detecting cases of sheep stealing were suggested by Senior-Detective E. H. Compton, of the Criminal Investigation Branch, Wellington, when a deputattion from the Meat and Wool Produce Section of Federated Farmers waited on him recently. Details of the interview have been made available in a circular to all provincial executives. “In particular,” the circular states, “the following important points were discussed or suggestions were made by Senior-Detective Compton, which, if implemented, would either deter people from stealing sheep or would assist the police to arrest people for committing the crime “Farmers in those areas where stealing of sheep appears to be occurring should publicly offer a reward for information that leads to a conviction for the crime of sheep stealing. Senior Detective Compton considered that rewards offered by farmers, or Federated Farmers, would give persons with important evidence an incentive to come forward and tell the police. Insufficient evidence was a common occurrence that frequently prevented the police from prosecuting where theft of sheep was suspected. “A further important way in which farmers could assist the police would be, as a matter of routine, to advise the police immediately of sheep crated motor trucks, and also of stock, moving at night. If farmers could make a habit of noting the registration number of trucks carrying sheep crates at night, the time when they were seen and the direction in which they were travelling and could notify the police immediately, as a matter of routine, this would supply information enabling the police to make enquiries. The combined effect of this co-opera-tion between the police and the farmers would at the least deter persons intending to steal sheep and would assist the police to make arrests. “Farmers should notify the police immediately of any loss of sheep. The police frequently find that their task of apprehending a person stealing sheep is made hopeless by the fact that farmers do not notify them unlil days or even weeks after the loss was first noticed. Stolen sheep can be transported in a few hours long distances from where they were stolen. Enquiries as to the movements of strange motor trucks must be initiated as soon as possible if the police are to be given a reasonable chance of tracing stolen stock. People will more easily remember a strange truck they may have seen the previous night than one they may have seen a week ago. “All farmers are asked to see that ears are left on sheep skins either after slaughter by farmers or after slaughter in rural slaughterhouses.! Senior-Detective Compton said that the police were frequently prevented from making an arrest of persons suspected of sheep stealing because of the fact that ears have been removed from sheep skins and destroyed. Senior-Detective Compton said that it was definitely in the hit crests of farmers Io see tlitit the provisions of the Stock Act regarding earmarks and the cropping of ears of stock were strictly observed. Also such observance would assist the police considerably to trace thefts of sheep. ‘ Senior-Detective Compton agreed with the deputation that an additional clause in the Auctioneers’ Act, 1903. requiring auctioneers to announce at the time stock is offered for sale the name and address of the vendor, and requiring the names of the vendors of slock to be disclosed in all account and invoices for sales of stock, woflTd be of material assistance to the police to trace stock and would operate as a deterrent to stock stealing.”