2024 Rural Crime Survey - Results Released

The Countryside Alliance has released the results of their 2024 Rural Crime Survey. The full results can be found hereabout this blogabout this blog.

The Survey shows that rural crime still remains a huge problem throughout the countryside, with 96% of respondents seeing crime as a significant issue in their area, and 45% believing that the police do not take rural crime seriously.

Furthermore, 73% of people were of the view that crime has increased in the last 12 months, reflecting a widespread feeling that communities are less safe. A significant proportion (48%) of respondents have felt intimidated by criminals or criminality in the past year, further evidencing this.

Key crimes were identified by the Survey as being priorities for the police to crack down on, with examples ranging from agricultural machinery theft to fly-tipping and hare poaching.

39% of respondents had suffered from incidents of rural crime in the past 12 months. The priority crimes represented a great deal of these, with 44% of reported crimes concerning fly-tipping, 32% concerning agricultural machinery theft, and 31% concerning illegal hare or deer poaching.

Sadly, a major issue in rural crime is underreporting. The Survey showed that 32% of crimes were never reported to the police. The reasons for not reporting crimes vary and are telling, with many citing a perceived lack of police action.

A significant proportion (48%) of rural crime victims who did report incidents to the police were dissatisfied with the response. 85% believe that the police cannot be relied on to be there when you need them, and 18% of people have considered moving or leaving their local area because of crime.

Half of respondents had installed crime prevention measures over the past year, due to either an increased fear of crime, or having been a victim of crime.

The implication of these findings is that we have a rural population simply putting up with the crime they experience and making do as best they can. There is often no escape from the effects of rural crime, with the fear of crime doing just as much damage as the crimes that are committed.

It is clear from these results that there is a lot to do in tackling rural crime, working with communities to ensure the impact of it is lessened, and to tackle the crime problems rural communities face.

The Countryside Alliance has called for action to be taken, and outlined a number of ways in which rural crime might be more effectively dealt with, including the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, greater usage of the powers available to police and magistrates, better reporting of cases of livestock theft, and increased support for the National Rural Crime Unit.

Speaking to representatives and stakeholders at the National Rural Crime Network annual conference 2025, on 25 March, the Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, Tim Bonner, said:

“Tackling crime and increasing police visibility is a priority for those living in the countryside, and while there is increasing awareness in the corridors of Westminster of the growing problem of rural crime, this awareness is often not felt by the communities that live and work in the countryside.

“The latest Countryside Alliance Rural Crime Survey, which is the UK’s largest annual survey on crime in rural areas, has once again highlighted the alarming scale of crime in our countryside and its profound impact on the communities that call it home.

“Through focused action, better engagement with rural communities, and the implementation of practical policies, we can turn the tide on rural crime. By prioritising the issues that matter most to rural residents and ensuring that the police have the resources and support they need to act, we can begin to rebuild trust, improve safety, and create an environment where rural communities feel secure once again.”