Police have revealed that sheep in the South West are being killed and butchered for their meat in fields. Over the past months a number of sheep have been stolen from Dartmoor, with some being found later, having been butchered in fields. Others are thought to have been removed for butchery elsewhere.

Livestock protection officers working on the Devon moor said that sheep have been found with joints of leg or shoulder, recognisable cuts of meat, removed.

There are also reportedly problems with dog worrying on the moor. In response to the death of over 50 sheep in less than a year, the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society has launched a campaign to promote responsible dog walking. Although the number of deaths this year has been high, it remains lower than 2011, which saw 72 sheep die in incidents of dog worrying.

In July, rural insurers NFU Mutual warned that rising meat prices, set against a backdrop of recession, have led to an increase in livestock thefts and illegal butchery, as criminal gangs increasingly see the thefts and illegal meat trade as a lucrative ‘soft option.’

In Lancashire and other parts of the North-West, the situation has become so serious that local constabularies are mounting stop and search checks on lorries and transporters, asking drivers to provide papers for the animals they are carrying.

NFU Mutual estimates that 67,000 sheep were stolen across the UK last year. Although the number of incidents in England fell, sheep thefts rose fourfold in Wales and tripled in Scotland compared to 2010 levels.

Rural police forces have said they are doing what they can, though they urge farmers to join a Farm Watch scheme to keep abreast of potential issues in their area.

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