Total Cost of Rural Crime Across UK Exceeds £50m

The NFU has called for action after the cost of rural crime in the UK rose to an estimated £52.8m, an increase of 4.3% from 2022 according to new figures from NFU Mutual.

In its 2024 Rural Crime Report, published on 1 August, the insurer revealed that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £52.8m in 2023, up from £50.6m the previous year.

Increases were seen in quad bike, ATV and livestock thefts. Intelligence shows thieves frequently target several farms in one night before moving locations to steal these highly valuable and portable equipment, often revisiting farmyards weeks later to steal any replacements.

In response, NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said: “As NFU Mutual’s report highlights, rural crime has continued to plague the British countryside over the past year. Criminals steal expensive equipment, livestock and high-value farm machinery, while also trespassing on private land and regularly fly-tipping tons of rubbish.

“Not only does rural crime significantly cost the UK on a national level, but it also has a significant impact personally to those farm businesses and farming families financially and emotionally affected, leaving many rural communities feeling vulnerable and intimidated.”

Sharp rises in inflation in 2023 made farming equipment an attractive target for organised gangs and meant each theft cost the rural community more than in previous years. But a co-ordinated response against crime saw a reduction in the number of agricultural vehicle claims reported to NFU Mutual.

Livestock theft remained high in 2023, at an estimated cost of £2.7m across the UK. Farm animals worth an estimated £2.4m were severely injured or killed in dog attacks across the UK in 2023, up nearly 30% compared to the previous year.

Rachel said these “alarming trends” need “urgent attention” adding that the NFU welcomed the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, due to be debated in the House of Lords when Parliament was dissolved prior to the election.

A survey of NFU Mutual Agents found 91% believed thieves were more organised, with 82% percent saying they knew farmers who had been impacted by rural crime in their area.

Figures fluctuated across the UK, with cost rises in Scotland (up 34.9% to an estimated £1.8m) and Wales (up 6.7% to an estimated £2.4m) while Northern Ireland saw a decrease (down 21.3% to an estimated £2m).Mr Smith said it was important for insurers, farmers, manufacturers, police and politicians to continue to work together to “provide a united response” to the challenge.

“We will also continue to support farmers and landowners directly to help protect their livelihoods, offer expertise as the main insurer of farmers and provide advice to tackle rural crime,” he added.

NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos agreed “collaboration is key to tackling rural crime effectively”.

“Rural crime is very different from urban crime with the scale, cost and social impact underestimated, under-reported and not fully understood.”

Read the full NFU Report here