There has been a surge in machinery and equipment thefts, livestock rustling and industrial fly-tipping hitting the pockets of farming businesses of all sizes.
The NFU HQ at Stoneleigh hosted a major conference for the National Rural Crime Unit involving police forces from across the UK to discuss a coherent approach to rural crime, including sharing best practice, effective tactics and managing joint operations.
NFU Vice-President David Exwood said: “Highly organised gangs of criminals continue to plague the great British countryside, stealing livestock and expensive GPS equipment, trespassing on private land and regularly fly-tipping tons of rubbish; their actions significantly impact farm businesses, farming families and rural communities, both financially and emotionally.”
Following the first session of the event, almost every police force unit in the room confirmed they have a dedicated rural crime team; the few which still plan to develop these dedicated teams have already set up processes to ensure national police priorities on rural crime are addressed.
Superintendent Andy Huddleston, Head of the NRCU, highlighted the recent upsurge in thefts of tractor GPS units, with every police force in the room indicating that they have dealt with such thefts. New research from NFU Mutual has revealed the cost of GPS theft in the first four months of 2023 exceeded £500,000, more than double compared to the same period last year.
The Superintendent praised the wok of rural crime leads across the UK but acknowledged “the need and want to do more”. He said: “There is an urgent need to improve co-ordination and partnership problem solving, regionally and nationally. The newly-formed NRCU is designed to do this and support UK police forces to combat the organised crime groups that target rural communities”.
Bob Henderson, NFU Mutual lead on Rural Crime explained how NFU Mutual has set up a dedicated agricultural vehicle theft unit and has collaborated with police forces to seize millions of poundsworth of stolen machinery. “This team is now part of the new Rural Crime Unit which will strengthen work at a national level so that specialist police resources can be targeted where they are needed most to protect farmers and the wider rural community. We are proud to be the primary funders of the new unit and wish it every success in its work.”
Greg Smith MP discussed his Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill that aims to ensure security measures must be included on quad bikes at point of sale. The NFU has been working closely with the Home Office on the new Bill, along with NFU Mutual, and other key stakeholders. The Bill is currently passing through the Committee stage in the House of Lords.
