Rural theft costs Buckinghamshire £785,000 in 2020 alone, as battle to keep criminals out of the countryside continues,
In its 2021 Rural Crime Report, published on Tuesday 3 August, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual reveals that rural crime cost Buckinghamshire over £785,000 last year.
Across the whole of the UK, the 2020 rural theft bill totalled an estimated £43.3m in 2020, as highly-organised criminals continue to plague Buckinghamshire's farmyards over the pandemic, stealing expensive equipment, agricultural vehicles and tools.
Other rural crimes, including dog attacks on livestock and fly-tipping rose sharply across the UK. The value of sheep and cattle attacked by
dogs shot up by 10% in 2020 to £1.3m in a year which saw a surge in pet ownership and countryside visits.
Rebecca Davidson, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said:
"There's no doubt that when we work together with police, farmers, communities and other rural organisations to tackle rural crime it can make a real difference. That's why we're investing over £430,000 in carefully targeted rural security schemes this year. The extra funding will help police join forces with local farmers, set up covert operations and recover more stolen machinery from countries across Europe.
"We believe this is vital support because rural crime isn't just about money to replace stolen tractors. It causes disruption, seriously affects farmers' mental well-being and destroys the trust which enables rural communities to flourish.
"With more and more people using the countryside, we are urging the public to support farmers and rural communities by reporting suspicious sightings and crimes to the police. Farmers in the South East have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, keeping the nation fed and caring for the countryside. By working together, we can help stem the tide when the criminals become more active again."
For more information on rural crime trends and advice, download the
report at www.nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime [2]
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