Police taking pro-active approach to avoid horses running wild

Sergeant Alwyn Peters of the Brownlow Neighbourhood Team said officers had taken a number of horses in the past nine months.

He said: "There has been a big reduction in the amount of horses running around - it's not as bad as it used to be.

"We hoped the message is getting through that we are taking action over irresponsible animal owners.

"We have captured a number of horses that have been allowed to wander onto the road.

"Under the 1976 Animal Order we have the power to take the animals in if they are on the road.

"We actively pursue the matter through the courts and seek to have all the costs of keeping the animals returned to us.

"Even if the person we know is the owner is refusing to accept they are the owner.

"But nobody wants to pay the fine and the costs so we hope we are getting through and attitudes are changing.

"We also have a number of cases going through the court on animal cruelty charges."

Sergeant Peters said police in Craigavon were kept busy trying to rein in the horses running through the area.

He went on: "It can take a bit of time trying to catch the animal.

"Our officers and the USPCA spent around three hours trying to catch one horse the other week.

"It was wild and evaded our capture for some time, they are not easy to catch - but someone has to police it."

Hopefully as the better weather comes in there will be a change in attitude and the horses will be properly tethered.