The Telegraph reports that crime in rural areas has risen nearly three times faster than the rest of the country in the last decade according to new figures from the National Farmers Union

The research, analysed by the Labour Party, shows that crime rates have risen by 33 per cent in rural towns and villages across England and Wales, compared to 12 per cent across the UK.

Costs for victims of rural crime - which includes theft of agricultural equipment or livestock, fly-tipping and hare-coursing - have also been rising steadily for the last four years.

In 2019 the total cost stood at £54.3m, up from £49.9m the previous year and £39.2m in 2016. It is the first time since 2011 that the cost has breached £50m.

The report quotes data from The Rural Services Network, which estimated that in 2018/19 rural areas received £167.01 per head of population in police funding compared to £206.20 in urban areas.

Full article:

The Telegraph - Rural crime rising three times faster than rest of the country

National Farmers Union (NFU) - Levelling up rural Britain