A new initiative aimed at tackling rural crime across county borders has been launched by Crimestoppers in collaboration with several northern police forces, including Cumbria, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Northumbria, Cleveland, and Durham.

This campaign focuses on raising awareness of the impact of rural crime, such as machinery theft, livestock rustling, and poaching, which often goes unreported. By encouraging communities to report information anonymously, the campaign aims to strengthen rural safety and reduce crime in affected areas.

The campaign comes in response to rising concerns highlighted in the NFU’s latest report, which revealed a 22% increase in rural crime costs in 2023, driven primarily by targeted thefts of high-value farm machinery and livestock. The NFU report also emphasised the importance of cross-county collaboration to address organised crime, a theme that Crimestoppers’ campaign directly supports.

By sharing insights on how residents can protect their properties and stay vigilant, the initiative emphasises the power of community-led efforts to support law enforcement and create safer rural environments. Crimestoppers hopes that this initiative will lead to increased reporting, ultimately reducing the impact of rural crime across the participating regions.

For further details, visit the Crimestoppers website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org