National Rural Crime Network

WhatsApp In Rural Crime Prevention

WhatsApp In Rural Crime Prevention Innovative tools like WhatsApp are proving to be valuable assets in the fight against rural crime. By enabling quicker communication between community members and authorities, we can respond faster and more effectively to incidents. Swipe through the carousel to understand how this technology-driven approach is just one of the many steps we need to enhance rural safety and security, ensuring that even remote areas are better protected.

Imapct of Fly-tipping

Impact of Fly-tipping Fly-tipping is a constant plague on farmlands, causing significant damage to the environment and local farming communities. Swipe through the carousel to understand how illegal waste dumping on farmlands is affecting farmers. By raising awareness and enforcing stronger penalties, we can work together to tackle this growing issue.

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