Rural crime is a key issue for rural communities and was a key plank of our Rural Charter which we launched before the general election in the summer. In it, we called upon the next government to recognise that tackling crime and increasing police visibility is a priority for the rural electorate.
As part of our campaign to raise awareness of the impact of rural crime on countryside communities, we are holding a drop-in briefing session at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, 15 October. This event is being held in conjunction with the National Rural Crime Network and Superintendent Andy Huddleston will be there representing the National Rural Crime Unit.
The session will offer a valuable opportunity for parliamentarians to learn more about rural crime and the impact it has on rural communities across the country. The Alliance will be sharing our latest research, discussing the challenges faced by rural areas, and exploring how MPs can support our ongoing campaigns.
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 nor reflected in government policies. Fifty per cent of people who responded to our 2023 Rural Crime Survey told us they don’t think the police take rural crime seriously and 35% said they have had a crime committed against them in the past 12 months. Livestock worrying, fly-tipping, agricultural machinery theft, and hare poaching were all crimes identified by respondents as issues they wanted the police to prioritise tackling. Livestock worrying was on the political agenda in the last parliament with legislation proposed to tackle the problem.
New research from the House of Commons Library shows a 32% increase in rural crime since 2011, compared to 24% in urban areas. This includes nearly 130,000 more reported offences, with an additional 30,000 cases of criminal damage and arson. These figures highlight a significant disconnect between rural issues and government policies.
In addition to briefing materials, we will be promoting Rural Crime Action Week 21 October – 27 October, highlighting how you can play a vital role in this initiative. The briefing will also feature photo opportunities for MPs to show their support and commitment to tackling rural crime.
We hope that many parliamentarians will drop in to this important event and be part of the efforts to protect rural communities and make a difference through parliamentary action.