Wildlife officers and the Rural Crime Team in Northumbria Police are taking part in the Canine DNA Recovery Project. 

In 2024 there have been 13 reported incidents of Livestock worrying in Northumbria Polices Force area. In 2023 there were 23 reports overall. As it is only May and having surpassed half the number of last years result this suggests a increase in Livestock Worrying Offences. Operation Recall is a national initiative launched to raise awareness of the issue, educating the public and partners on the impact of livestock worrying. Livestock offences are also one of the National Rural Crime Priorities. 

The Canine DNA Recovery Project is a new forensic research project run by Liverpool John Moores University who are working with farmers, police and vets to improve the collection of offending dog DNA from attacked livestock. This research is led by Dr Nick Dawnay aiming to develop, promote and apply best practice methods for the collection and analysis of canine DNA from attacked livestock and wildlife. The initial part of the project is focusing on attacked Sheep. 

While livestock attacks are on the increase, obtaining suitable forensic samples from the scene is difficult as attacks often occur in remote locations. According to Dr Dawnay “Our rural crime police can’t always attend scenes in a timely manner so quite often no forensic sample is collected from the injured or deceased livestock”. The timing of sample collection is important as the “DNA of an offending dog will not last long on an animal exposed to the elements or on a dead carcass that has been disturbed or moved.”

This led Dr Dawnay to develop Early Evidence Kits so in the event of a livestock attack a forensic sample can be collected at the crime scene by police, vets and farmers. These easy-to-use kits will enable canine DNA to be collected in minutes at the scene of the attack, with samples then handed to the police. These kits WILL NOT be evidential however this research with the help of local livestock owners will help in advancing forensic recovery from attacked livestock so in the future there are better forensics to help investigate these offences. 

If you would like more information about the project or live in the Northumbria Police Force area and would like a DNA recovery kit please contact the Rural Crime Team via the email address: operationhawkeye@northumbria.police.uk.