‘Rural crime has a serious impact’published at 08:19 British Summer Time
Lauren Woodhead
Data journalist
We’ve been hearing about what makes farming such a special job, but it’s not without its challenges – including the threat of being targeted by criminals.
It is an issue that farming-focused insurer NFU Mutual tracks closely.
According to its data, rural crime cost £44.1m in 2024 – down about 17% from the year before.
It saw drops in the theft of GPS units, quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles, but tractor theft and trailer theft rose by 17% and 15% respectively.
NFU Mutual’s data also painted a picture across the UK, with Wales being the only place to see the cost of rural crime rising.
Rachel Hallos, NFU vice-president, said such crimes “have a serious impact on farming families, from the financial cost of stolen equipment to the emotional distress caused by livestock attacks”.