Rural Crime News

A Hertfordshire farmer may be forced to pay more than £40,000 to clear 200 tonnes of rubbish which was dumped on his arable land.

The NFU has called for stronger, long-term action to tackle rural crime. While the overall cost of rural crime has shown signs of a welcome reduction, new figures highlight worrying rises in the theft of high-value farm vehicles, fuel and livestock. 

The new report published by NFU Mutual has revealed that the cost of rural crime across the UK fell by 16.5% last year, however, organised and serious crime still cost the countryside an estimated £44.1m in 2024. 

A 65-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of sheep worrying criminal damage offences, Rossendale Police confirms.

Human remains found at a farm near Kenmare, Co. Kerry, have been identified as missing farmer Michael Gaine.

A chainsaw was found on the farm owned by murdered farmer Michael Gaine, Gardaí confirmed.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of stolen machinery and equipment was recovered last weekend, North Yorkshire Police confirmed.

Northamptonshire Police appealed for information following a tractor theft in Polebrook.

Farming campaigners have welcomed a new crackdown on cowboy waste operators that aims at tackling soaring fly-tipping in rural areas. 

Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Team has recently issued a plea for help to find a therapy sheep Bertha that was stolen from the North Devon area. 

Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Stamford, has proposed a new clause which makes theft of high value farming equipment an aggravating factor on sentencing.

Two arrests have been made following an incident in which a man was struck by a vehicle while confronting suspected poachers near Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hampshire Police confirmed.