June 16, 2026 - 108 views
North Wales Police’s Rural Crime Team has been commended by the Chief Constable for its work in strengthening protections for livestock and helping to drive improvements in rural policing across the UK.
The recognition comes following the team’s involvement in shaping the new Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, which came into force in March 2026 after concerns were raised about gaps in existing legislation.
Officers identified that the previous legal framework did not fully reflect the realities of modern farming, particularly the frequency and impact of dog attacks on livestock, which can cause significant financial losses and emotional distress for farming communities.
The updated legislation aims to provide stronger safeguards for farmers and clearer accountability around incidents involving dogs and livestock.
PC Dave Allen, alongside Rob Taylor, Welsh Government Wales Rural & Wildlife Police Crime Coordinator, played a key role in establishing the UK’s first dedicated Rural Crime Team.
During their work, they helped identify critical shortcomings in existing law, including its inability to properly address the scale of harm caused to livestock under current farming conditions.
The Chief Constable praised the team for its contribution both locally and nationally, highlighting the impact their work has had on shaping policy and improving rural policing practice.
Their efforts are now being credited with helping to influence a more modern and effective approach to tackling rural crime, particularly in protecting farming communities across Wales and beyond.
