The meeting was held at North Yorkshire Police HQ and saw NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos meet with representatives from the National Wildlife Crime Unit, National Rural Crime Taskforce, NFU Mutual, Ceasar, National Rural Crime Unit and the Deputy Mayor of North Yorkshire alongside Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire of the United Kingdom, Diana Johnson.
Topics under discussion included rural crime, agricultural thefts and hare coursing.
Representatives shared the success of partnership working and remarked on how the significant success of Operation Galileo has seen a reduction in hare coursing nationally, although there was acknowledgement there is still more that needs to be done.
“The NFU remains committed to ongoing collaboration with the police and policymakers to develop and implement strategies that protect our farmers and the countryside.”
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
Operation Galileo brings together police forces across the country in a bid to tackle hare coursing.
The link between rural crime and serious organised crime was discussed as well as for secondary legislation for the Equipment Theft (prevention) Act 2023 to be tabled to bring in provisions for other agricultural equipment.
Ensuring the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill passes Committee Stage in parliament was also a key ask.
Driving real change
Following the meeting, NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said: “Today’s roundtable at North Yorkshire Police headquarters, alongside Minister for State for Crime Policing and Fire Diana Johnson, underscores the critical importance of collaboration in addressing rural crime.
“Rural areas face unique challenges, and by working together we can drive real change in protecting farmers and the countryside.
“During this meeting, I spoke directly with the Minister about the urgent need for stronger legislative measures to better protect our rural communities, such as implementing secondary legislation under the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 to tackle GPS thefts and passing the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill to safeguard livestock from distressing and violent attacks.
“I also stressed the need for a national rural crime strategy, as outlined by the government in their manifesto last spring, and how the National Rural Crime Network’s 10-point plan can serve as an essential blueprint for action.
“Equally important is the need for stronger deterrents for crimes like hare coursing, and we are engaging with the Sentencing Council’s consultation to ensure the appropriate sentencing is put in place.
“The NFU remains committed to ongoing collaboration with the police and policymakers to develop and implement strategies that protect our farmers and the countryside from the devastating and wide-reaching impacts of rural crime.”
