Crime rates increasing faster in countryside than towns and cities
CRIME rates in the countryside are rising faster than in urban areas, figures have revealed.
The amount of recorded crime has risen by almost a third in rural parts of England and Wales since 2011, compared with a 24 per cent increase in urban areas.
Statistics revealed by the Labour Party show that rural areas have seen a rise of 130,000 reported offences, including close to 30,000 more instances of criminal damage and arson.
Sir Keir Starmer said that organised crime, rural theft and anti-social behaviour were “blighting” rural communities as he revealed plans to implement the first ever government-backed rural crime strategy.
Among its proposals are pledges to crack down on high-value farming technology theft and to ensure that plans to clamp down on sheep worrying become law. The Labour leader said: “Our countryside towns and villages are part of our national identity, but also home to millions.
“My Labour Party knows the challenges they face, including crime rates surging faster than in urban areas, with organised crime, rural theft and anti-social behaviour blighting communities.
“As chief prosecutor I got to know all corners of our country, and committed to delivering justice for people in all communities.
“With my changed Labour Party, Britain’s rural communities will be protected with the first ever government-backed rural crime strategy.” Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, accused the Conservative Party of “abandoning rural communities and letting organised criminals operate with impunity”.
It comes as Labour continues to attempt to woo rural voters in traditional Conservative heartlands ahead of the general election.
A poll in February put the party’s support in the countryside at 37 per cent compared with 34 per cent for the Conservatives.
According to the poll by Survation for the Country Land and Business Association, the Tories risk losing more than half of their rural seats to Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Labour has announced that it would extend the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act to require immobilising technology – which protects vehicles from “hot wiring” – and security markers to be fitted to valuable GPS systems.
The technology, which is used in farming vehicles such as tractors, accounted for more than £500,000 worth of thefts in the first four months of 2023.
Labour has also said that it would make sure that proposals put forward by Therese Coffey, the Tory MP and former environment secretary, aimed at cracking down on livestock worrying would become law.
The proposed Bill would give police tougher powers to clamp down on the practice, including more powers to seize dogs after serious incidents and to obtain evidence samples from livestock to assist investigations.