Mr. Pat Leahy:

Likewise, I do not want to downplay the effects of crime in any way. I will mention a couple of aspects of this issue that are important. Thefts from farms have been in the limelight recently. Such crimes have decreased by 8% in the past year. There has been a reduction of 9% in the value of objects stolen from farms. Animal theft has decreased by 3%. There has been a reduction of 5% in the number of tools being stolen. The number of incidents in which farming equipment has been stolen has decreased by 18%. There has been a 39% reduction in the value of the farming equipment that has been stolen. There is good news. We absolutely accept that incidents are taking place. We hear about them every other day. We do not want to frighten people. The number of vehicles being stolen from farms has decreased by 13% in the past 12 months. There is some good news. Operation Thor has had a significant effect on all of this. This issue has national, regional and divisional aspects. We are looking at the travelling criminals about whom we have been talking for many years. We have had quite substantial successes in this regard. It is important to say that there is some good news in this space so that people are not sitting at home in fear of crime.