Sheep rustlers turn beautiful UK national park into ‘Wild West’
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National park becomes ‘Wild West’ as sheep rustlers run amok
- Dartmoor National Park is experiencing a surge in sheep rustling, with one farmer reporting the loss of 440 sheep last year, costing him over £50,000.
- Devon and Cornwall Police recorded at least 1,101 sheep thefts in 2023 and suspect industry insiders are involved.
- The stolen sheep may be entering the black market or being used for the illegal production of "smokies", a banned delicacy.
- Despite police efforts, including the use of drones, and discussions about livestock tracking devices, farmers are calling for more action to combat rural crime.
- In its latest report, NFU Mutual said the annual cost of livestock theft in the UK had risen to £2.7m in 2023, up 8.7 per cent from 2022.