Medieval methods used to tackle criminals

The financial impact of rural crime on the UK’s businesses and countryside communities is on the rise and analysts fear crackdowns by some police forces are simply driving criminals to neighbouring areas instead.

FARMERS ARE turning to medieval security methods to combat modern-day crime, according to a major annual study.

Earth banks and dry ditches are helping to fortify farms against criminals seeking to use 4x4 vehicles to get onto farmland, while reinforced gates protect entrances from ram-raiders.

Protective animals, such as dogs or geese, are still providing a low-tech alarm system, as they have done for centuries.

Jayne Watson, an agent with NFU Mutual, said: “Adapting centuries-old security with hi-tech solutions is already proving successful in keeping at bay thieves who don’t fear being caught on camera and have the skills to overcome electronic security systems.”

NFU Mutual has today published its latest report into the financial impact of rural crime on the UK’s countryside communities. This shows the cost of rural crime in the UK rose by 13 per cent to £44.5m last year, with West Yorkshire the third worst affected county.

Analysts fear crackdowns in some force areas are driving criminals to other parts of the country and have called for better cross-border working between police forces.

Quad bikes, all-terrain vehicles specialist tools and 4x4s are proving to be prime targets for thieves, according to the report.

Sheep farmer David Airey, of Sutton-in-Craven, said being a victim of crime was now part of daily life.

THE COST of rural crime in the UK rose to £44.5m last year, with West Yorkshire the third worst affected county, new analysis shows.

The financial impact of rural crime on the country was 13 per cent higher than the year before, with analysts saying they are seeing “a new breed of determined and brazen thieves” with quad bikes, all-terrain vehicles and 4x4s their prime targets.

Rural insurer NFU Mutual’s annual Rural Crime Report, published today, reveals that the cost of rural crime in North Yorkshire fell by 17 per cent to £955,000 last year, following the creation of North Yorkshire Police’s specialist Rural Taskforce in April 2016.

However, rural crime in neighbouring West Yorkshire jumped by 14 per cent to £1.7m, making it the third worst affected county in the UK, and prompting fears that the crackdown in North Yorkshire is driving criminals into the neighbouring county instead.

Tim Price, a rural affairs specialist with NFU Mutual, said the cost of rural crime had been relatively stable since 2010.

He added: “However, in 2017 we’re alarmed to see it on the rise once again, this time fuelled by a new breed of determined and brazen thieves who are using a combination of brute force and technological know-how to steal from farms and country homes.”

Mr Price said some police forces around the country were proving to be “beacons of light” in the fight against the criminals.

He said: “However we would like to see more collaboration between forces.

“It’s not enough for one county’s rural crime initiative to simply displace crime to a neighbouring county. We’re fighting to see crime removed from the countryside.”

Yorkshire and the North East remained the third worst affected region of England, although there was good news in South Yorkshire, where the cost of rural crime fell by 18 per cent to £644,000.

North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan, who chairs the National Rural Crime Network, said the report reinforced the findings of their own National Rural Crime Survey last month.

She said: “While this report has stark numbers on the cost of crime, this is only the tip of the iceberg. We know many crimes in rural communities go unreported – especially by business owners, because they don’t feel the offence will be taken seriously or anything will be done, and our survey also found that, for the same reasons, only around a quarter of crimes are reported to insurers.

“However, it also reinforces that significant progress is being made to address these challenges in North Yorkshire. NFU Mutual finds the cost of crime here is down 16.7 per cent in the past year compared to a 13 per cent increase across the UK.

“This is on top of the Rural Crime Survey’s results which show our North Yorkshire Rural Taskforce is having an impact at improving the way police are perceived to be dealing with rural crime.

“The National Rural Crime Network believes we need to do more to understand rural crime and its impact, and put that understanding into practice.”

Assistant Chief Constable Amanda Oliver, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “It’s very good news that the annual cost of rural crime in North Yorkshire has fallen by more than 15 per cent.

“We take rural crime extremely seriously, and this reduction is testament to the hard work, professionalism and dedication of our Neighbourhood Policing Teams and Rural Taskforce, as well as the vital support we get from those who live and work in our rural communities.

“The figures show that we are making significant progress here in North Yorkshire, and leading the way nationally in the fight against rural crime.

“However, we are certainly not complacent, and we recognise that there is more to do.

“We are committed to continuing to improve the policing service we provide to our rural communities.”

West Yorkshire Police declined to comment.

We would like to see more collaboration between forces. Tim Price, rural affairs specialist with NFU Mutual.

CRIME IS not only a blight on our region’s countryside, but has a devastating economic impact on those who live and work there.

It is a matter of serious concern that it cost Yorkshire and the NorthEast £6.8m last year, as part of a staggering £44.5m nationally.

For farmers especially, this is a financial burden that they can ill afford to bear.

Equally concerning is that this region remains one of the worst three areas of the country, according the figures released by insurer NFU Mutual.

This is an unenviable distinction.

Tackling rural crime is notoriously difficult. Inevitably, police resources are spread more thinly than in urban areas, and response times to incidents greater because of the distances involved.

The often sparsely-populated nature of the countryside also makes it easier for criminals to get away without being seen by witnesses.

Yet there is some encouraging news, with crime in both North and South Yorkshire down.

This is a trend that needs to be built upon. In particular, the success of a North Yorkshire Police task force could provide a model that other areas can adopt.

Given that vehicles are amongst the most frequently stolen items, it is possible that increased emphasis on intelligence operations to establish where they are being sold yields results.

Residents of the countryside also need to report crimes, which some businesses are failing to do. If the police are to win this fight, those who live and work there need to be their eyes and ears.