The cost of rural crime in NI continues to increase, despite fewer incidents being reported to police.
Figures from insurance firm NFU Mutual suggest that rural crime cost £3.3m in NI last year, an 18% increase on 2018 levels.
However, data from the PSNI shows that there were 5,577 cases of rural crime reported during 2019, which is down 0.5% year on year. The number of burglary, robbery and theft incidents specifically related to agriculture fell by 7% last year to 374 cases.
The NFU Mutual figures on the cost of crime are part of an annual report which was published this week.
The rising cost shows that thieves are targeting higher-value items on farms
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Rebecca Davidson from NFU Mutual explained that the data is based on claim statistics from their customers and she pointed out that the insurance firm covers over 75% of farmers in NI.
“The rising cost shows that thieves are targeting higher-value items on farms,” Davidson said.
According to NFU Mutual, Co Antrim had the highest rural crime cost across all counties in NI last year at £1.15m, up 42% year on year.
Organised crime is being blamed for rising crime costs in rural NI, particularly thieves who target expensive tractors, quads and livestock on farms.
I also encourage farmers to step up security
“Many farmers and rural dwellers across the country are living in constant fear, unable to gain peace of mind in their own homes and farms because of these reoccurring thefts by criminal gangs,” said UFU president Victor Chestnutt.
Record details of all your farm machinery, take photographs and consider investing in tracking systems
He urged farmers to report all cases of crime and pass on any information of suspicious activity to police.
“I also encourage farmers to step up security. Make sure all farm machinery and vehicles are safely locked away, especially those of high value. Record details of all your farm machinery, take photographs and consider investing in tracking systems,” Chestnutt said.
Less than a fifth of NI crime is rural
Of all cases of burglary, robbery and theft reported to the PSNI, 82% occurs in urban areas and 18% is in rural areas.
The latest figures from the PSNI show that crimes which relate specifically to agriculture equated to only 1.4% of incidents of burglary, robbery and theft in NI.
The latest PSNI data was published last week and covers the 12-month period to the end of June 2020
The data indicates that whilst rural and agricultural crime remains a concern in NI, crime in urban areas continues to be a bigger issue and a major use of police resources.
The latest PSNI data was published last week and covers the 12-month period to the end of June 2020.
It shows that the number of rural and agricultural crime cases reported to police fell at an even faster rate than that seen during the 2019 calendar year.
In the 12 months to the end of June 2020, agricultural crime incidents in NI were down by 8% and rural crime cases reduced by 17%.
Read more
Agri crime in NI down 7% in 2019
Agri crime hits record low in NI
The cost of rural crime in NI continues to increase, despite fewer incidents being reported to police.
Figures from insurance firm NFU Mutual suggest that rural crime cost £3.3m in NI last year, an 18% increase on 2018 levels.
However, data from the PSNI shows that there were 5,577 cases of rural crime reported during 2019, which is down 0.5% year on year. The number of burglary, robbery and theft incidents specifically related to agriculture fell by 7% last year to 374 cases.
The NFU Mutual figures on the cost of crime are part of an annual report which was published this week.
The rising cost shows that thieves are targeting higher-value items on farms
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Rebecca Davidson from NFU Mutual explained that the data is based on claim statistics from their customers and she pointed out that the insurance firm covers over 75% of farmers in NI.
“The rising cost shows that thieves are targeting higher-value items on farms,” Davidson said.
According to NFU Mutual, Co Antrim had the highest rural crime cost across all counties in NI last year at £1.15m, up 42% year on year.
Organised crime is being blamed for rising crime costs in rural NI, particularly thieves who target expensive tractors, quads and livestock on farms.
I also encourage farmers to step up security
“Many farmers and rural dwellers across the country are living in constant fear, unable to gain peace of mind in their own homes and farms because of these reoccurring thefts by criminal gangs,” said UFU president Victor Chestnutt.
Record details of all your farm machinery, take photographs and consider investing in tracking systems
He urged farmers to report all cases of crime and pass on any information of suspicious activity to police.
“I also encourage farmers to step up security. Make sure all farm machinery and vehicles are safely locked away, especially those of high value. Record details of all your farm machinery, take photographs and consider investing in tracking systems,” Chestnutt said.
Less than a fifth of NI crime is rural
Of all cases of burglary, robbery and theft reported to the PSNI, 82% occurs in urban areas and 18% is in rural areas.
The latest figures from the PSNI show that crimes which relate specifically to agriculture equated to only 1.4% of incidents of burglary, robbery and theft in NI.
The latest PSNI data was published last week and covers the 12-month period to the end of June 2020
The data indicates that whilst rural and agricultural crime remains a concern in NI, crime in urban areas continues to be a bigger issue and a major use of police resources.
The latest PSNI data was published last week and covers the 12-month period to the end of June 2020.
It shows that the number of rural and agricultural crime cases reported to police fell at an even faster rate than that seen during the 2019 calendar year.
In the 12 months to the end of June 2020, agricultural crime incidents in NI were down by 8% and rural crime cases reduced by 17%.
Read more
Agri crime in NI down 7% in 2019
Agri crime hits record low in NI
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