Coleg Menai students work with Police to prevent livestock attacks

Art Foundation students at Coleg Menai in Bangor have been helping North Wales Police Rural Crime Team, using their skills and imagination the students are designing material aimed at preventing livestock attacks by dogs.

A report from the National Police Chief’s Council recently revealed that 648 livestock animals have been killed and another 376 injured following attacks since 2013, with the vast majority being sheep. More than 50 dogs have been shot for attacking livestock in North Wales during that time.

The project at Coleg Menai is being undertaken by the same group of students who recently completed work in Pontio to celebrate the Wales China festival.

Last year the graphics students on the course were also involved in a project with North Wales Police’s Rural Crime team. The project involved designing images, posters and short animated films to highlight some of the work the team do to fight rural crime, notably badger bating, illegal fox hunting, wild bird egg theft, bird of prey poisoning and livestock attacks.

Last year’s project very successful, with the images being circulated worldwide – particularly on social media platforms like Twitter. The project was so successful that one student, Aled Thompson, who is now studying for his degree in graphic design at John Moores University, was asked to design a new logo for the Rural Crime team and his logo has been used by the team ever since.

Owein Prendergast, the course leader of the art foundation programme, said: “We were invited to take part in a similar project again this year, but this year with a more specific focus on Livestock attacks.

“This is an area that the team are currently focusing on, and again they’ve asked our students to publicise their work. This year we have extended the brief to the entire course, so as well as graphic designers answering the brief we will have specialist students covering all areas of art and design, from Fine Art to Fashion, showing their take on the subject. we anticipate some diverse, exciting and challenging outcomes.”

Rob Taylor, Manager of the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team, said: “This is the second year that we have worked closely with the young artists at Coleg Menai to help tackle rural crime. This year we have asked for their skills in designing material to help educate and prevent livestock attacks by dogs not only in north Wales but throughout the UK. it is a privilege to witness their talent and to know that their efforts could make a big difference to this wholly preventable offence.”