Rural crime must be a priority for PCCCs

The Country Land and Business Association, which represents thousands of landowners, farmers and rural businesses in the North, says reducing crime and the fear of crime is central to improving quality of life for people living in the countryside.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “Incoming commissioners need to work with rural communities to combat crime in our countryside and protect rural businesses. They must be in no doubt as to the scale and impact of rural crime and where action is most needed.

“Last year, the cost of crime in rural areas across England and Wales was estimated to be £800 million by the National Rural Crime Network. It also revealed that people in rural areas are much more worried about becoming a victim of crime, compared to the national average.”

It highlighted five areas to be tackled, namely the theft of metal and machinery from farms, wildlife crime such as hare coursing, fly-tipping (which costs the UK’s farmers and rural businesses an estimated £150m a year), a lack of policing presence in the UK’s countryside and funding.

Miss Fairburn said: “More than one in four crimes in rural areas go unreported. This cannot continue. Equally, it cannot be right that people are left at a higher risk of crime simply because of where they live.

“These elections are an important opportunity to ensure all candidates not only understand the cost and impact of rural crime but are also committed to taking a stand and reducing it in their area.”