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Stock crime unit to be operational by June

Media release : 9th February 2009

Western Australian livestock owners can look forward to the smooth introduction of the new Livestock Compliance Unit which will be fully operational by June 2009.

Department Animal Biosecurity acting director Brad McCormick said the WA Police and Department of Agriculture and Food were working together to finalise the details of the new unit announced in December.

“The Livestock Compliance Unit will be set up by the Department of Agriculture and Food and will be working with regional police to target rural livestock crime,” Dr McCormick said.

“It will involve six Department of Agriculture and Food stock inspectors, who will be given additional training and powers in order to assist police more effectively in stock crime incidents.

“Essentially, the inspectors will provide stock inspection services associated with livestock crime investigations, while WA Police staff will carry out crime investigations.”

Dr McCormick said training for the inspectors would commence shortly and would focus on evidence gathering procedures.

“Additional powers required by the stock inspectors in this role will include requesting the name and address of people in charge of livestock,” he said.

“Whether the necessary extra powers will be delivered via an amendment to the Stock Identification and Movement Act 1970 or by nominating those inspectors as special constables is yet to be decided.”

While the department's stock inspectors have always assisted the police where necessary with stock crime investigations, the Livestock Compliance Unit will provide a formal and more effective mechanism for that assistance.

Dr McCormick said the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database was beneficial in identifying cattle and in verifying movements of cattle over their lifetime.

“Stock inspectors can use the NLIS database to quickly and accurately establish the current ownership of cattle,” he said.

“In addition, the WA NLIS sheep and goats system allows inspectors to view clear physical identification and supporting documents to rapidly establish sheep and goat ownership.”

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