The Irish Farmers’ Association has called for the introduction of a “track and trace” scheme to compel scrap dealers to record the source of all scrap metals.
IFA environment and rural affairs chairman Harold Kingston said the scheme should include mandatory checks by local authorities and gardaí, and regular inspections of records and premises.
Speaking in light of the recent publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, Mr Kingston said: “We are getting reports of valuable machinery disappearing from farmyards and fields all over the country as part of work carried out by a sophisticated network of criminals.”
The CSO figures confirm the increased incidence of robberies and thefts reported by IFA members, he said.
“It is becoming increasingly evident that those behind the thefts have access to significant resources that enables them to steal large machines and store them for some time before disposing of them.
“What is of most concern is the fact that over 60 per cent of thefts and related offences remain undetected,” he said.
Mr Kingston said the IFA was calling for “the immediate introduction of a ‘track and trace’ compliance scheme, to monitor the movement of scrap metal and identify individuals that trade illegally in such materials”.