Welcome to NRCN's
10-Point Plan Tracker
This page is created to provide transparency and keep you informed about the progress made by key stakeholders against each of our recommendations from our 10 Point Plan.
We are dedicated to advocating for these improvements and working closely with relevant authorities and the government to see them through. By tracking these efforts, we aim to foster accountability and collaboration among all the involved parties in fighting rural crime.
Introduction
Our report on organised rural crime as well as the 10-Point Plan addresses the unique challenges faced by rural areas and aims to deliver targeted solutions.
Read them below.
Not yet initiated
In progress
Delivered
How do we do it?
We have created a traffic light system to track the progress of each point from our plan.
Status
Point 1
Overhaul the Way Police Prioritises’ Rural Crime
THRIVE is the policing assessment framework used to prioritise incidents and allocate resources: Threat, Harm, Risk, Investigation, Vulnerability and Engagement. It is currently being reviewed and adapted to better reflect the impact and characteristics of rural crime.
Whilst we welcome the move to review the current situation It remains to be seen the outcomes across the various forces. We will update when we have further information.
Status
Point 2
Full Economic Impact Assessment of Rural Crime
We are formally writing to the Minister to request a full economic impact assessment of rural crime. In the meantime, the NRCN is exploring alternative options with partners to produce a report.
Status
Point 3
Legislate for a National Rural Crime Strategy and Advisory Group
The Government has backed a national Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy in England, and the NRCN continues to engage with the Home Office and Defra. We are now working towards a more structured approach to rural community feedback and rural-proofing rural crime policy.
Status
Point 4
Recruit Specialist Rural Crime-Coordinators
Awaiting Survey Reponses
Status
Point 5
New Rural Crime Sentencing Guidelines
We welcome new sentencing guidelines for the offence of hare coursing, reflecting the harm to rural communities and links to organised criminality. However, organised crime gangs often move between different types of rural crime, so overarching rural crime sentencing guidelines are needed. The NRCN is developing a proposal to support this, covering serious organised rural, wildlife and heritage crime and enabling more consistent sentencing.
Status
Point 6
Full Implementation of the Victims’ Code of practice (VCOP)
The Victims’ Code of Practice (VCOP) sets out the minimum service and entitlements victims should receive from criminal justice agencies (including information, case updates, referral to support and, where eligible, access to special measures). While the legislative framework is now in place, VCOP is still not consistently implemented in frontline delivery, with significant accountability gaps remaining. We believe this is vital for rural victims, who can be reluctant to report crime when they do not receive sufficient support.
Status
Point 7
Whatsapp to be Used by Rural Crime Officers
Awaiting survey responses
Status
Point 8
Greater Rural Crime Training for Police Officers and Control Centres
Awaiting Survey Responses
Status
Point 9
Tougher control at our Ports and Borders
The Home Office issued a one-off £250,000 payment to NAVCIS in 2024/25 to boost intelligence, alongside launching a £100m+ Border Security Command to tackle organised border crime. We are monitoring impact and will establish an International Project Delivery Group with European partners to strengthen accountability and protect rural communities from organised crime gangs using our ports.
Status
Point 10
Increased Use of Technology
Awaiting Survey Responses
Status
Point 1
Overhaul the Way Police Prioritises’ Rural Crime
Threat, Harm, and Investigation guidelines (THRIVE) should be reviewed and updated by the College of Policing in order to properly represent the organised and serious nature of rural crime as well as its effects.
Status
Point 2
Full Economic Impact Assessment of Rural Crime
We are calling on the Home Office to undertake a comprehensive economic impact assessment of rural crime including the on-costs of damage and delays to food production.
Status
Point 3
Legislate for a National Rural Crime Strategy and Advisory Group
We are calling for a bill to require the Home Secretary to produce a rural crime strategy that is fully integrated into the overall Government Crime Strategy.
Status
Point 4
Recruit Specialist Rural Crime-Coordinators
Police and Crime Commissioners should ensure that specialist rural crime co-ordinators are recruited within their force and full data and intelligence sharing with the Police’s National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU)
Status
Point 5
New Rural Crime Sentencing Guidelines
We are calling for developing rural crime specific guidelines that highlight the true impact of rural crime and its links to serious and organised crime and recommend sentences for offenders that are appropriate to these facts.
Status
Point 6
Full Implementation of the Victims’ Code of practice (VCOP)
All victims of crime deserve a minimum level of response from the Police, and we fully support the introduction of VCOP.
Status
Point 7
Whatsapp to be Used by Rural Crime Officers
WhatsApp has been an effective way for rural and isolated communities to quickly feed in intelligence and report suspected criminal activity to the Police. We are asking Police and Crime Commissioners to act to ensure WhatsApp is available to rural crime officers in their respective forces.
Status
Point 8
Greater Rural Crime Training for Police Officers and Control Centres
We are calling on Police and Crime Commissioners to ensure that staff are encouraged to undertake training, understand rural crime and the impact on rural communities in order to help rebuild public confidence in rural policing.
Status
Point 9
Tougher control at our Ports and Borders
We believe the Government should provide further resources to NaVCIS to carry out their operations and disrupt the activities of OCGs
Status
Point 10
Increased Use of Technology
Technology such as CCTV and ANPR Cameras can be installed in rural and isolated spots. We would also like to see clear guidance given to local authorities to allow them to comply with GDPR and data protection laws so that this technology can be used to deter and detect fly tipping and other rural criminal activities.