THE FINANCIAL impacts of rural crime in Worcestershire have dropped by over half despite still costing Midlands land owners and farmers millions of pounds annually, according to the latest data from the National Farmers’ Union Mutual Insurance Society (NFU Mutual).
Published on Monday (June 16), NFU Mutual’s new report reveals that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £44.1m in 2024, down from £52.8m the previous year – a 16.5 per cent reduction.
The £44.1m total includes £8.1m costs to Midlands farmers and land owners – a 31 per cent reduction from 2023, when rural crime resulted in losses of £11.7m.
In 2024 across Worcestershire, rural crime cost £552,000 compared to £1.18 million in 2023 – a 53.3 per cent reduction.
Research says quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATV) remain high on thieve’s shopping lists, costing an estimated £2.7 million.
The total claims cost for agricultural vehicle thefts reported to the UK’s leading rural insurer fell 35 per cent to an estimated £7m last year, with global positioning system (GPS) units experiencing the largest cost decline, down 71 per cent to £1.2m.
Collaboration saw £4.4m worth of stolen agricultural vehicles and machinery seized and recovered across the UK last year
Livestock theft remained high in 2024 at an estimated cost of £3.4m across the UK. UK farm animals worth an estimated £1.8m were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2024, down by more than a quarter compared to the previous year.
Kylie Robson-Lee, NFU Mutual Regional Manager for the Midlands, said: “In recent years we’ve seen rural crime becoming increasingly organised, serious and persistent in nature, with thieves willing to pull out all the stops to get what they desire, and sadly we saw that trend continue in 2024.
“Rural crime goes far beyond disrupting farm work and impacting food production. It has a real impact on the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families, causing severe stress and sleepless nights as the rural community lives in fear that those responsible might return.”
For over 20 years NFU Mutual has campaigned on the scourge of rural crime and is proud to be a major funder of the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU).
Working hand-in-hand with the NRCU, NFU Mutual operates a dedicated team which shares claims data and insight, helps to identify areas at risk and finds theft patterns to assist recoveries.
This kind of collaboration saw the National Construction and Agri Theft Team, which sits under the NRCU, seize £4.4m worth of stolen agricultural vehicles and machinery in 2024.
Last year NFU Mutual also funded the UK’s first livestock theft officer within the unit until at least 2027/28 to tackle this upsetting crime.
To help farmers and rural communities protect their livelihoods from the threat posed by organised crime, NFU Mutual has provided over £400,000 on rural crime fighting schemes in 2024.
Visit www.nfumutual.co.uk/farming/rural-crime/ for more information.
