10 Worst affected Counties by Cost in 2023 as per NFU Mutual
19 September, 2024 10 Worst affected Counties by Cost in 2023 as per NFU Mutual It is day 4 of National Rural Crime Action Week 2024, where our focus is on Protecting our Countryside! The NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2024 has revealed a stark reality that demands our attention. These figures highlight the urgent need for action and collaboration within our communities. This week is not just about raising awareness; it is about empowering residents and law enforcement to take a stand against rural crime. Let us unite for #ProtectingourCountryside.
Rural Crime Report 2024 by NFU Mutual
19 September, 2024 Rural Crime Report 2024 by NFU Mutual NFU Mutual’s latest figures show a 4.3% rise in 2023, pushing the cost of crime in rural areas to a staggering £52.8m. Criminal gangs are increasingly targeting farmyards and fields, capitalising on high inflation and strong resale markets both in the UK and overseas. The impact is felt across rural communities, with theft of farm machinery, tools, livestock, and even large-scale fly-tipping contributing to this surge. These crimes are not isolated incidents; they are often part of organised criminal networks that operate across regions, leaving rural communities vulnerable. Rural crime is a serious issue, but with vigilance and the right preventive measures, we can work together to reduce its impact. To know more, read NFU Mutual’s complete Rural Crime Report 2024 now: https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/farming/rural-crime/.
‘How farms are being targeted by criminal gangs stealing machinery to order for Russia’ – ITVnews Segment
14 May, 2024 ‘How farms are being targeted by criminal gangs stealing machinery to order for Russia’ – ITVnews Segment According to a recent segment by ITVnews featuring Chair of NRCN, Tim Passmore, an average of 170 agricultural vehicles are stolen every month! https://youtu.be/r2SQbMSupks?si=hWTY-KtLTdNgsZ44 Watch this interview featuring the Chair of the NRCN, Tim Passmore, to learn about how these stolen goods are making their way out of the country, leaving our farmers without the tools they need to make a living. As highlighted by Tim, criminals are increasingly targeting this equipment due to the high prices they can fetch on the black market. This calls for a stronger police presence in rural areas to deter criminals and improve response times. Additionally, farmers need access to more effective security measures, such as GPS tracking, forensic marking for equipment, and improved fencing. Watch the complete story on ‘how farms are being targeted by criminal gangs stealing machinery to order for Russia’ now!
Dr Kate Tudor on BBC Radio – Farming Today
14 March, 2024 dr. Kate Tudor on BBC Radio – Farming Today Let’s hear directly from Dr Kate Tudor – the author and researcher behind our latest report on ‘Rural Crime: Serious Organised and International’. https://youtu.be/gkrtcphXCJg Along with the key findings, Dr Tudor also discusses the misconceptions related to rural crime and the need for targeted strategies with BBC Radio 4 – Farming Today. Listen to the full segment!
The Telegraph Exclusive on the NRCN Report
08 March 2024 The Telegraph Britain’s rural communities ‘being targeted by foreign drug gangs’ Read the exclusive article published by The Telegraph here. Download the NRCN Report on ‘Rural Crime: Serious Organised and International‘ for free.
Welcome from Tim Passmore, Chair of the National Rural Crime Network
17 May 2021 Welcome from Tim Passmore, the National Rural Crime Network’s new Chair I am delighted to be able to write to you as both the re-elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk and the new Chair of the National Rural Crime Network. I have been the Vice-Chair of this organisation since we were formed in 2014. Things are better than they were then – there are more rural crime teams, more understanding of the problems faced in rural communities and more attention on the challenged faces in our most remote and sparsely populated areas. Better. But with a huge amount more to do. Rural crime is an issue that has never had the attention it deserved on the national agenda. In the past seven years since the NRCN was formed, we have made progress but let’s not underestimate the task that remains. As a farmer and a businessman, I have seen all too often at first-hand the impact of crime on rural communities. For some it still can seem trivial. Too many within government, within the police and within the country as a whole, question whether crime like the theft of machinery from a farm is a big deal. Those of us who live and work in rural areas know the impact it has – it can mean crops are ruined because they cannot be harvested, jobs and livelihoods of those employed are under threat and farmers’ families end up living in fear of criminals targeting their property. Since 2014, the NRCN has become a voice to be listened to when we have put the spotlight on some of the big issues we face – whether it’s the impact of domestic abuse or the growing threat of hare coursing. I want to pay tribute to Julia Mulligan as she steps down both as the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire and as Chair of the NRCN. She has done a huge amount to improve the lives of people in rural areas, I thank her for everything she has done and wish her good luck in her new roles. As Chair, I will continue and strengthen our work so that we know the true picture of crime in rural communities, understand the impact it has, and use that to ensure the police, government and others find solutions to the challenges that have existed for too long and blighted the lives of too many. I am also looking forward to working alongside our new Vice-Chair, Peter McCall – the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria – and our newly elected Executive Board. From our partner members: Countryside Alliance – Sarah Lee Crimestoppers – Mick Duthiie NFU – Sam Durham Rural Services Network – Graham Biggs And, from our Police and Crime Commissioner members: Devon & Cornwall –Alison Hernandez Essex – Roger Hirst Lincolnshire – Marc Jones Sussex – Katy Bourne I look forward to getting started and discussing all of the issues we face – and what we do about them – in the weeks and months ahead.
NFU launch Cyber Security Guide for farmers
12 March 2020 NFU launch Cyber Security Guide for farmers NRCN-member, the National Farmers Union (NFU), has partnered with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to produce an online booklet to support farmers in preventing and reporting cybercrime. Cyber-attacks are on the rise, they can be financially devastating, disrupting and upsetting to individuals and businesses. Cybercriminals aim to exploit human or security vulnerabilities in order to steal passwords, data or money directly, and the agricultural sector is no exception. Almost half (46%) of businesses identified cyber security breaches or attacks in the last 12 months. This criminal trend is an on-going threat to businesses of all natures and sizes, it is not just the larger organisations that need to invest in cyber security. Cyber security can often appear to be a complex and daunting subject, but prevention plays an important role in tackling the crime. The NFU hopes this booklet will provide farmers with practical, step-by-step guidance that can easily be implemented to build towards better resilience against cybercriminals and reduce their chances of being targeted. Download the guide here >>
Captive & Controlled – One Year On: Challenging Attitudes & Changing Lives in Derbyshire
13 July 2020 Captive & Controlled – One Year On: Challenging Attitudes & Changing Lives in Derbyshire Derbyshire was one of the counties which took part in the 2019 research by the National Rural Crime Network and led to the Captive & Controlled report. For the first time, the differences between rural and urban domestic abuse were recognised in this way. And so, as Derbyshire, with the exclusion of Derby City, is mostly rural this report was of particular interest. By Emily Brailsford This need for a rural focus on domestic abuse was highlighted because of the different challenges that victims living in rural areas face. Derbyshire’s Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner considered this information carefully and decided to fund The Willow Project in February this year. This meant that there was only a matter of weeks to start work on the project, before the whole country was shut down by Coronavirus. Sadly this meant that domestic abuse was on the forefront of everyone’s minds. So instead of gently easing into our role, we had to hit the ground running here at The Willow Project. Our main focus is to raise awareness. In normal circumstances this would be done by giving talks and presentations, visiting community groups and country shows. But, because of lockdown we have had to change our plans and learn how to do all of this digitally. We also plan to deliver training to various different groups of people such as vets and school safeguarding staff, once we are safely able to. The last strand of the service is to recruit a team of ‘champions’, people within the community who will work to raise awareness around domestic abuse. The Willow Project isn’t a frontline service and champions won’t deal directly with victims, except in an emergency. What the project hopes to do, is to work closely with the amazing domestic abuse services we have here in Derbyshire, supporting them in raising awareness so that they can concentrate their time and their funding on working with victims. Hosted by Rural Action Derbyshire, The Willow Project aims to raise awareness around the different challenges faced by victims of domestic abuse living in rural areas. For more information on The Willow Project, please visit the website. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, LinkedIn. Or email Emily Brailsford, Project Officer at e.brailsford@ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk or call her on 07594 088858
Captive & Controlled – One Year On: What’s Changed?
13 July 2020 Captive & Controlled – One Year On: What’s Changed? In July 2019, the National Rural Crime Network revealed an alarming picture – the truth behind domestic abuse in rural Britain, with hidden victims being found to be ‘isolated, unsupported and unprotected.’ One year on from its launch, we consider what has changed since the release of the report, and whether there has been progress on the recommendations made. Last year’s report revealed that abuse lasts, on average, 25% longer in the most rural areas, the policing response is often largely inadequate, and the more rural the setting, the higher risk of harm. The harrowing findings of the report also revealed rurality and isolation are deliberately used as weapons by abusers. One recommendation which was made in the report, was a call for the government to apply its ‘rural proofing’ policy to domestic abuse, to account for specific needs of victims and survivors in rural communities. The Domestic Abuse Bill being introduced at the end of last year was a step in the right direction, however there is still more that could be done in order to reflect the needs or rural Britain. This Domestic Abuse bill is important though in order to be able to protect victims of domestic abuse and bring the criminals to justice and we should not underestimate its significance, particularly with the amendments which have been made during its progression through Parliament. Additionally, since the release of the report, an overhaul of family courts has been put in progress, striving to protect domestic abuse victims and their loved ones. This overhaul will give victims of domestic abuse special protections in court such as separate building entrances, waiting rooms, and protective screens to shield them from alleged abusers in court. This has been an immense change, supporting those vulnerable and exposed victims. Julia Mulligan, Chair of the NRCN: “We warmly welcome the news that the Government will be taking forward a range of measures to support survivors of domestic abuse and their children in the Family Court and to ensure that they receive greater protection. “For far too long, the support and protections that should be available to survivors of domestic abuse through the criminal justice process simply do not exist, and it can be a struggle from the moment the survivor steps into the Family Court. “We welcome the fact that, having taken note of feedback and conversations, the report had recommended positive change and collective improvement. We have been calling for this to change for a number of years and the announcement is an important first step; we must now ensure that the commitments announced today are delivered as quickly as possible.” One of the other recommendations included in the report asked for support services for rural victims to be improved. Our report highlighted the challenges in accessing these services if you lived a long way from an urban area, leaving victims often isolated and struggling to access help. A £2m fund was set up in the past year to try and combat that – to both support the victims and also launch a public awareness campaign. It emphasised the need for people to look out for vulnerable members of communities, in particular any victims of abuse, and was a welcome move. Despite these promising steps, there is still much more that can be done in order to further support rural services and victims. With many people experiencing the true meaning of isolation themselves this year, it is essential that momentum is continued to support those in need. It is feared that this funding, for example, which was also used for the public awareness campaign, will only offer short-term support for those needing it. With the current global pandemic also meaning the furlough scheme will be in place until October, there are now fears that more problems will arise at the end of the year, with demand for support on the rise. The domestic abuse support fund, also expected to end in October, might not offer support to those who need it when many of the perpetrators of abuse will, inevitably, return to work. Unfortunately, rural issues are all too often still overlooked, and such funding and support for victims is not distributed equally. The current pandemic has meant police attention has also been diverted elsewhere, potentially leaving victims alone, isolated and unsupported. After a 12 months the like of which none of us could have predicted, progress has been slow – but there has been progress. There needs to be much more though to support the victims who are still too often hidden away, captive and controlled.
NFU launch Farm Security Guide
12 March 2020 NFU launch Farm Security Guide NRCN-member, the National Farmers Union (NFU), have launched a “Farm security guide” to support its members in preventing and reporting rural crime. With the cost of rural crime at its highest since 2011, it is an ever-increasing policy area for the NFU. The organisation works hard to raise the issue of rural crime with the police, local authorities, and at the highest level of government. The NFU is dedicated to its members and provides the best possible support and advice. There are a range of tools currently available for farmers and landowners, including an online rural crime hub, a dedicated rural crime hotline, and a number of publications and reports. To further this, last month the NFU released a “Farm Security Guide” during its rural crime workshop at the NFU Conference 2020. The Farm Security Guide offers key advice to its members on measures they can take to protect their farming business and how to report a crime effectively. Prevention plays an important role in reducing rural crime, and by putting a few measures in place, farmers can reduce their chances of being targeted. Farms are often not only businesses but also family homes, so it is important to take every appropriate measure to protect them. Inside the manual, there are 10 crime prevention tips for your property/land. The NFU has also partnered with several leading security and service brands to offer members exclusive discounts. Through a close working relationship with the police, the NFU recognise the importance of reporting a crime effectively. Not only is it important to gather data on rural crime, but it is also vital to give the police as much relevant and accurate information as possible. The booklet provides an essential step-by-step guide to reporting crime, specific to different offences, to ensure our members have the appropriate information. So far, the guide has received positive feedback, and the NFU hopes that by sharing this knowledge with farmers and landowners, we can tackle rural crime with a consistent and coordinated approach. You can download it here >>