Home Office rural crime figures used to up pressure for action

Newly released Home Office figures on crime and anti-social behaviour are being used to back-up the calls from farming organisations for prompt and effective action to address the growing issue of rural crime.

With the English NFU now representing farming on the Home Office steering group, agriculture had been included in the 2017 commercial victimisation survey. The union said that inclusion in this report would demonstrate to police and government the true extent of rural crime with up-to-date statistics from farmers.

The results showed that the proportion of businesses experiencing agriculture-related crime and anti-social behaviour had risen since 2013 with: 35 per cent of businesses suffering from trespassing or unauthorised access of land or buildings, 26 per cent from poaching, hare coursing or illegal hunting, 23 per cent from illegal access by quad bikes or other vehicles and 15 per cent suffering cases of livestock worrying.

The union called on authorities to ensure the establishment of a dedicated rural police team in each force - and for government to bring together a cross-departmental taskforce that could address failures in dealing with rural crime.

NFU deputy president Guy Smith said: “These new figures will come as no great surprise to farmers on the ground who often feel in a state of siege from the criminal fraternity.

“These crimes, whether it is fly-tipping, hare-coursing, burglary or theft, have more in common with organised crime than simply spontaneous acts, and it all impacts on the daily lives of farmers in farreaching and costly ways,” said Smith.