The NFU has claimed that rural crime is going seriously underreported in the UK.

Rural crime cost an estimated £42.5 million in 2015, according NFU Mutual figures, and a new NFU report on the issue, which was published on Monday, highlights how farmers and their families in parts of the country have been victims of arson, vandalism and burglary, with vehicle theft, hare coursing and fly-tipping also noted as recurring issues, which are often left unreported.
 
The result, the union says, is an increasing fear of crime in rural areas and significantly lower satisfaction levels in the police than the national average. The NFU also claims that the police’s handling of rural criminality, which differs from force to force, is leading to so-called ‘criminal tourism’ with perpetrators often travelling long distances to target farm businesses, seen as soft targets.
 
On Monday, NFU Deputy President Minette Batters said, “With significant and varied differences across police forces, safety in rural areas has become a postcode lottery. Farmers are reporting dramatic increases in incidents and are feeling more vulnerable as these actions continue. Violent crime along with fly-tipping, hare coursing and theft are just a few examples of the crimes farm businesses are being subject to. On my farm, we have suffered with constant hare coursing problems, resulting in gates being left open and stock being continually put at risk.
 
The NFU is demanding that the Government and Home Office ensure increased and fairer funding for rural policing, which has been hit hard by austerity; more than 1,000 rural police stations closed between 2000 and 2012.
 
Speaking ahead of the launch of the NFU’s rural crime report in the House of Commons, Minette Batters said, “There are many very good examples of police forces taking action and implementing good practice to deal with rural crime, with great success.
 
“But we believe more joined-up thinking is needed from police forces together with local authorities and Government to address these issues. The NFU would like Government to take the lead to ensure all constabularies adopt strategies of accurate recording and target setting and are willing to work together to find positive solutions to these challenges.
 
“Farmers should not be seen as a soft target for criminals.”