Rural Crime

As rural crime continues its unrelenting spread across the UK, the NFU is calling for greater protection for farmers and landowners as National Rural Crime Action Week gets underway.

Farmers in the Midlands are being advised by the police to increase vehicle security following a spate of 20 high-value tractors and telehandler thefts in Staffordshire and Shropshire over the last month. Police suspect a highly-organised criminal gang is responsible for the thefts.

Police are investigating the theft, which occurred between 3pm on 4th August and 10am on 8th August.

The latest NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report reveals an alarming increase in criminal activity across the British countryside, with the total cost of rural crime adding up to an estimated £49.5m, a steep rise of 22% from the previous year.

Farmers in Northern Ireland are being urged to increase security in their farmyards and fields as harvest approaches due to a recent upsurge in global positioning systems (GPS) thefts reported by authorities.

On-the-spot fines for litter, graffiti and fly-tipping are set to rise as the government moves to clamp down on anti-social behaviour that harms nature and communities, environment minister Rebecca Pow announced last week.

An ex-SAS military adviser and his daughter have has launched a new business specialising in improving farm security and preventing rural crime.

A survey conducted by the Environment Agency has revealed that 18% of all waste produced in England may be illegally handled, with farmers reporting financial cost and visual blight as the main detrimental impacts of waste crime.

Yesterday’s first-ever National Rural Crime Unit Conference saw the NFU, NFU Mutual and representatives from 40 police forces come together to discuss ways to protect farmers’ livelihoods amid a surge in machinery and equipment thefts, livestock rustling and industrial fly-tipping that continues to threaten rural businesses.

Farmers in Suffolk are being urged to maintain vigilance following a string of GPS farm equipment thefts in Eye, Bedingfield and Friston within the last week.

An annual survey by the National Sheep Association (NSA) has sparked concerns that farmers may be permanently forced to live with the devastating consequences of dog attacks, as sheep worrying “continues to be swept under the carpet”.

NFU Mutual is urging farmers to take extra precautions as quad thefts continue to rise this year, affecting many who rely on quads to look after livestock.