Rural Crime News

Shropshire farmers have been warned to protect their farms against crime following recent farm burglary and vehicle thefts. 

Two fly-tippers have been detained following a citizen’s arrest in Warwickshire last week. 

Herefordshire farmer John Price has been sentenced for organising the illegal felling of trees, shortly before he was imprisoned for another environmental offence.

The UK government has backed new legislation to tackle livestock worrying. The new measures aim to reduce dog attacks on animals and help secure successful prosecutions that recognise impacts of the attacks on farmers and their businesses. 

Farm animals worth an estimated £1.8 million were killed or injured by out-of-control dogs in only one year, NFU Mutual says.

The NFU has made an urgent call for action after the latest statistics show that more than one million incidents of fly-tipping were reported across England last year.

Manor Farm, in Wotton, took to social media with evidence of a suspected arson attack that left their winter feed, bedding supply and barn ‘absolutely ruined’.

A pair of “calculated criminals” has been jailed after stealing more than £200,000 worth of farming equipment from across Yorkshire.

The cost of Land Rover Defender thefts is nearly at £2.5 million, remaining stubbornly high in 2022 after a sharp increase in 2021, NFU Mutual has warned.

Since 2019 the NFU’s petition to ban sky lanterns in the UK has gained over 100,000 signatures as more research is conducted into their potential ability to start wildfires, kill animals, destroy crops, set buildings alight, as well as littering the countryside. To date 188 councils out of 333 have banned them in England and Wales.

A leading rural insurance company has welcomed the “timely” introduction of new legislation aimed at preventing the theft of all terrain vehicles (ATVs).

With over eight out of 10 retailers experiencing crime in the past six months, farm shops are being offered security advice.