Rural havens under siege: The 'escalating crime wave plaguing the countryside' - 'Terrorising our communities!'

Recent findings from the Countryside Alliance reveal a stark reality, with nearly one in five rural residents having thought about packing up and leaving, driven by growing fears over crime.

The criminals operate with precision, often stealing valuable agricultural machinery that locals say is quickly transported out of the country.

These gangs are understood to arrive from Eastern Europe for brief periods, working with British accomplices to target specific areas before disappearing with their haul.

Farmers report feeling abandoned by authorities as response times in remote areas can leave them vulnerable to these sophisticated criminal operations.

The impact extends beyond financial losses, with many rural residents reporting significant mental health strain from living under constant threat.

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, told GB News: "Tackling crime and increasing police visibility is a major priority for people who live in the countryside."

He added that awareness of rural crime issues in Westminster "is often not felt by the communities that live and work in the countryside."

The Countryside Alliance survey reveals that 96 per cent of respondents consider crime a significant issue in their local area, with 45 per cent believing police do not take rural crime seriously.

Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) think crime has increased in the past 12 months, highlighting growing safety concerns in rural communities.

Almost half (48 per cent) of respondents report feeling intimidated by criminals, with 39 per cent personally experiencing rural crime in the past year.

The survey found that 44 per cent of rural crime incidents involved fly-tipping, 32 per cent concerned agricultural machinery theft and 31 per cent were related to illegal hare or deer poaching.

Earlier this year, a cross-border incident in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire saw up to seventy criminals drive vehicles through fields killing wildlife and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

A Devon farmer revealed he has lost more than 4,500 sheep to thieves in the last decade, representing over £500,000 worth of livestock.

At the end of last year, police arrested two people after finding stolen farm equipment worth more than £250,000 at an Essex business park.

Many cases are linked to organised criminal gangs who export the machinery to Europe and beyond.

Mo Metcalf Fisher, External Affairs Director for the Countryside Alliance, told GB News about the organised nature of these criminal operations.

"We've seen research conducted which shows that there are gangs coming over from Europe, mainly Eastern Europe, who come to the UK for a short period of time," he explained.

These gangs "work with what I assume are British counterparts, to target and hit farms in certain areas, and then they disappear into the night and they're never seen again."

The criminals move with remarkable efficiency, with stolen machinery often believed to be loaded onto shipping containers and transported to Europe before police can respond.

This rapid movement of stolen goods presents a significant challenge for law enforcement, particularly in remote areas where police response times can be lengthy.

Metcalf-Fisher further detailed the challenges in tackling these crimes, noting that police often arrive too late to prevent stolen goods leaving the country.

"You know, we've had instances of people who have called 999, and only had a follow up several hours or if not, the day afterwards," he told GB News.

By this time, stolen machinery "has made its way onto a shipping container and has already got to Europe."

Alister Green from NFU Mutual Lincolnshire described how farmers are now "having to constantly live in a protective state, as opposed to enjoying the rural area."

He told GB News that farmers are implementing extensive security measures including "gating, physical barriers, CCTV" with remote sensing capabilities.

Workshops and gates are now locked even during business hours, with machinery brought back to yards rather than left in fields.

Green also highlighted the increasingly brazen nature of rural criminals who "don't turn up in balaclavas" but operate openly, saying: "They're not bothered by CCTV, and they will just threaten you as well, they intimidate victims with statements like we know where you live."

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Simon Gadd, NFU Lincolnshire County Chair, highlighted how crime affects farm operations beyond the initial theft.

"It's not that the actual theft has happened. It's the downtime as well," he explained.

When equipment like GPS systems are stolen from tractors, vehicles can be out of commission for weeks during busy periods.

Gadd noted that "it gets very expensive, very costly" as farmers then need to hire replacement equipment to continue their work.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart told GB News: "Successive governments have failed to treat rural crime with the seriousness it deserves and are leaving our communities to deal with the consequences.

"Criminals are terrorising our countryside with illegal activity like hare coursing, equipment theft, and fly-tipping. Far too many criminals are getting away with it - so it’s no surprise local communities are worried sick about these impacts.

"Our rural areas cannot be ignored for any longer. The Government must urgently bring forward a comprehensive rural crime strategy that finally gives our countryside communities the protection they deserve.”

Speaking to GB News, Reform UK MP for Ashfield Lee Anderson said: "Crime is no longer just a city issue — it’s now plaguing our countryside too. Labour has already failed rural Britain with punishing inheritance taxes and a clear contempt for the family farm. They’re not just making rural communities poorer — they’re leaving them defenceless.

“Nearly one in five rural Britons are now considering moving away. If we can’t guarantee safety in the countryside — the very heart of Britain — then what hope is there?"

Metcalfe-Fisher highlighted a disconnect between Westminster and rural communities, noting that decisions made in Whitehall are often "both metaphorically and literally, a huge distance away from the realities of people that live on the ground in the countryside."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Victims of crime in rural communities should never feel unsafe or that the police will not take firm action against selfish criminals who devastate their livelihoods.

"That’s why, alongside the forthcoming Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy, we announced new funding for the National Rural Crime Unit, which will increase collaboration by police forces in rural areas, and target malicious organised crime groups.

"This government will also implement the Equipment Theft Act, and engage with those most affected to put measures in place in the right way."