51AVÊÓÆµ

Police to hold DNA forensic marking event at Northumberland National Park

Northumberland Partnership Against Rural Crime said the session would help farmers to protect their equipment from being stolen

Chris Brayford
clock • 1 min read
Officers said £200,000 worth of equipment has been protected with DNA forensic marking (Northumbria Police)
Image:

Officers said £200,000 worth of equipment has been protected with DNA forensic marking (Northumbria Police)

Police have announced they will be hosting a machinery marking event in Northumberland National Park to help farmers protect their equipment from being stolen.

Northumberland Partnership Against Rural Crime, launched in December 2022, said it will host the session on Monday (September 18) in the village of Lucker near Belford to show farmers how to safeguard their machinery from thieves with DNA forensic marking.Ìý

Officers have asked farmers to take either their ATVs, trailers or other machinery to show them how to mark and register their equipment along with providing warning signage to display on their farms.

See also: South West farmers urged to take part in rural crime survey

Northumbria Police said more than £200,000 worth of agricultural machinery, tools and equipment had been marked with a forensic code as part of its fight against rural crime with an invisble DNA code since the beginning of the summer.

Police said theÌýcode helps our officers easily spot stolen property that thieves may be attempting to sell on and quickly identify rightful owners.

See also: Warning as criminal gangs target tractors in the Midlands

More on Rural crime

Rural churches a 'hotspot' for targeted and thoughtless criminality

Rural churches a 'hotspot' for targeted and thoughtless criminality

Nearly 4,000 crimes were recorded at churches across the UK in 2025, amounting to more than 10 a day

Chris Brayford
clock 15 April 2026 • 6 min read
Cow approved for waste carrier licence shows criminals are 'milking' the system

Cow approved for waste carrier licence shows criminals are 'milking' the system

‘Beau Vine’ a Charolais-Cross cow in Wiltshire was approved for upper tier waste carrier license in under three seconds, with no checks or questions asked

Alex Black
clock 14 April 2026 • 2 min read
Farmer fearing for his safety after hare coursers target farm almost 200 times in just eight months

Farmer fearing for his safety after hare coursers target farm almost 200 times in just eight months

Essex grower says police need more powers to address increasingly violent incidents

clock 14 April 2026 • 2 min read