Calls made for rural machine theft legislation to be introduced in Scotland

A Holyrood bill to protect farm machinery would give north-east businesses certainty in the “worst” months of May and June, a local MSP has said.

Alexander Burnett spoke in support of rural machine theft legislation after Scottish data suggested the north-east is a hotspot for ATV, vehicle and fuel theft.

Figures for the last quarter from the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime revealed the value of rural theft of machinery was almost £350,000 in March alone.

Insurers NFU Mutual say all-terrain vehicles are a “hot-ticket item” because global supply chain problems have caused long waiting lists for new vehicles.

At Holyrood on Wednesday, Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett urged rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon to introduce immobilisers and regulate the sale of agricultural vehicles.

He said: “The north-east was identified as one of the most targeted areas, and we are now heading into May and June which are the worst months for theft.

“Bold steps need to be taken to tackle this, particularly when such crime makes it impossible for farmers to work.”

Ms Gougeon said she would be willing to discuss the details of the plan with Mr Burnett.

In Westminster, a similar Bill was passed unopposed at its second reading in December, but will apply to England Wales only.

Mr Burnett said later: “Rural crime in Scotland is an increasing problem which the SNP have failed to tackle.

“A Bill to tackle the theft of agricultural vehicles and machinery would protect farmers from some of the most debilitating forms of rural crime.”

The NFU have suggested two methods of forensic markings which could work; either markings which could only be viewed under UV light or a unique code which scanners could read.

Either of these could be compared to a database identifying the rightful owner.

The cost of such markings is estimated at £35, so the costs to farmers would not be too high.

At Parliament the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act was introduced by Greg Smith, MP Buckingham.

The wording of the Act itself however refers to ‘vehicles or other equipment’ and doesn’t seem to limit itself to purely ATVs but these vehicles are particularly targeted and easy to steal because they lack many safety features.

The Act functions by granting powers to the minister to create regulations in this area, initially it will focus on ATVs but there are calls to widen the scope.

The Act makes it an offence to sell the equipment without the appropriate safety features or records.

An offence under this Act would be a summary offence.