Countywide green yard scheme set to launch

Officers from Derbyshire Constabulary are set to launch a scheme to target stray horses on roads across the county.

The initiative, which is set to launch on Monday, December 22, aims to minimise the number of stray horses on the roads to help prevent road traffic collisions, along with encouraging people to take responsibility for their animal’s safety.

Once a stray horse has been reported to police, the green yard scheme will see the horse being taken to a safe place whilst officers carry out inquiries, such as checking for microchips, to help find the owner.

Police will then have 14 days to trace the owner of the horse. Once the owner has been traced, they will have to pay the costs incurred by police and will face prosecution for letting their animal stray on the highway.

Community safety inspector, Erika Green, said: “The number of stray horses out on the roads this year appears to have doubled from previous years, with around 700 incidents being reported to us in 2014 so far.

“This is an unacceptable number which can be dangerous for both the animal and road users and the green yard scheme is set to tackle that.

“A huge amount of officer time is spent herding animals back into fields only to have them escape again and again.

“I would like to encourage all horse owners to take steps to passport and microchip their horses according to current legislation. It is also vital to ensure that land is properly secure to prevent animals from escaping.”

Discounted event days will be held in the near future to give horse owners the opportunity to have their horses passported and micro-chipped at a cut-down price.

For more information about the events, contact Lesley Manger, your local county co-ordinator for Horse Watch, on 01773 831 251.