Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to bring forward secondary legislation to mandate (a) GPS and (b) ATV security measures on farm equipment under the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023.

We are committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which aims to prevent the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.

The Act will help prevent equipment being stolen, make it harder for criminals to sell on stolen quad bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), and assist the police with identifying owners of stolen equipment. I know that thefts of removable GPS units are increasing, and these systems are vital for farming, which is why there is scope for these devices to be included in this legislation.

The Act requires secondary legislation before it can come into effect. I am carefully considering the views of those who may be affected by the legislation and its regulations, to understand the potential implications and determine the scope of the legislation. The Government response to the Call for Evidence on the scope of the legislation will be published in due course.