Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Thursday, 25 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 1 April 2004. It was answered by Alun Michael (Labour) on Thursday, 1 April 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role the British Cattle Movement Service plays in the tracing of stolen cattle.

Answer: Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role the British Cattle Movement Service plays in the tracing of stolen cattle. [164596] Alun Michael: The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) acts as the Department's main contact with keepers and police forces in tracing stolen cattle. The BCMS provides evidence from the Cattle Tracing Scheme database to help the police establish the true ownership of animals in disputed cases. The BCMS also acts for keepers directly by marking animals reported to have been stolen and informing the local police force when any further notifications are made to them about these animals. The BCMS works closely with agricultural departments' inspectors, the police and local trading standards officers to ensure that the theft, movement and disposal of stolen animals is made as difficult as possible.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 419 c1553W;419 c1555W; 164596
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Databases Cattle Livestock Theft Cattle tracing system British Cattle Movement Service
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk