In its 2024 Rural Crime Report, published on 1 August, the insurer revealed that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £52.8m in 2023, up from £50.6m the previous year.
GPS unit thefts alone rose by a staggering 137% to an estimated £4.2m.
Intelligence shows thieves frequently target several farms in one night before moving locations to steal these highly valuable and portable kits, often revisiting farmyards weeks later to steal any replacements.
Increases can also be seen in quad bike, ATV and livestock thefts, while the total claims cost for agricultural vehicle theft reported to NFU Mutual decreased by 9%.
Financial and emotional impact
In response, NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said: “As NFU Mutual’s report highlights, rural crime has continued to plague the British countryside over the past year. Criminals steal expensive GPS equipment, livestock and high-value farm machinery, while also trespassing on private land and regularly fly-tipping tons of rubbish.
"Not only does rural crime significantly cost the UK on a national level, but it also has a significant impact personally to those farm businesses and farming families financially and emotionally affected, leaving many rural communities feeling vulnerable and intimidated.”
Quad bikes and ATVs were top targets for rural thieves, with thefts up 9% to an estimated £3.2m in claim costs reported to NFU Mutual last year.
“It also has a significant impact personally to those farm businesses and farming families financially and emotionally affected.”
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
Sharp rises in inflation in 2023 made farming equipment an attractive target for organised gangs and meant each theft cost the rural community more than in previous years. But a co-ordinated response against crime saw a reduction in the number of agricultural vehicle claims reported to NFU Mutual.
Livestock theft remained high in 2023, at an estimated cost of £2.7m across the UK. Farm animals worth an estimated £2.4m were severely injured or killed in dog attacks across the UK in 2023, up nearly 30% compared to the previous year.
Rachel said these “alarming trends” need “urgent attention” adding that the NFU welcomed the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, due to be debated in the House of Lords when Parliament was dissolved prior to the election.
“It is crucial similar measures are introduced to stop this needless suffering to livestock,” Rachel said.
“The NFU was pleased to see a new Crime and Policing Bill introduced in the King’s Speech, and we look forward to seeing the details of this Bill when published.”
Equipment Theft Bill
Rachel added: “The new government has been clear that food security is national security, and we want to see policy that now recognises that.
“Given the unprecedented rise in GPS theft, the NFU is looking forward to the new government delivering its rural crime strategy that was announced in April, starting by extending the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act to cover GPS theft from farm vehicles.”
The Bill became law last year and gives give the Home Secretary powers to make regulations that will deter the theft and resale of quad bikes and ATVs. One of these regulations includes requiring that any new quad bike or ATV contain immobilisers and security markings at the point of sale.
Given the unprecedented rise in GPS theft, the NFU would like to see the scope of the Bill widened in secondary legislation to include GPS theft from farm vehicles and other larger agriculture equipment.
A survey of NFU Mutual Agents found 91% believed thieves were more organised, with 82% percent saying they knew farmers who had been impacted by rural crime in their area.
Figures fluctuated across the UK, with cost rises in Scotland (up 34.9% to an estimated £1.8m) and Wales (up 6.7% to an estimated £2.4m) while Northern Ireland saw a decrease (down 21.3% to an estimated £2m).
Worst affected counties by cost
| Region or County | Cost in 2022 | Cost in 2023 | % Change from 2022 |
| East | £6.6m | £7.1m | +8.4% |
| Midlands | £12.5m | £11.7m | -6.7% |
| North East | £8m | £8.6m | +7.3% |
| North West | £3.2m | £3.2m | +1.4% |
| Northern Ireland | £2.5m | £2m | -21.3% |
| Scotland | £1.4m | £1.8m | +34.9% |
| South East | £9.3m | £8.9m | -3.8% |
| South West | £5m | £7m | +41.9% |
| Wales | £2.3m | £2.4m | +6.7% |
| Total | £50.6m | £52.8m | +4.3% |
Estimates based on NFU Mutual claims statistics. To read the report in full, visit: NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2024
‘Collaboration is key’
To help farmers and rural communities protect their livelihoods from the threat posed by organised crime, NFU Mutual has provided over £1m since 2021 in support for initiatives to tackle rural crime.
In 2023, NFU Mutual became a major funder of the NRCU (National Rural Crime Unit).
Formally established last April, the unit is staffed by police officers with experience in detecting and preventing rural crime, with investigative powers to track and intercept stolen machinery and equipment.
Working hand-in-hand with the NRCU, NFU Mutual operates a dedicated team which shares claims data and insight, helps to identify areas at risk and finds theft patterns to assist recoveries.
This kind of collaboration saw the National Construction and Agri Theft Team, which sits under the NRCU, seize £3.1m worth of stolen vehicles and machinery in 2023.
NFU Mutual has also funded the UK’s first livestock theft officer at the NRCU.
NFU Mutual Regional Manager for the North East Dave Smith, said: “All the indications suggest rural crime is becoming more organised, sophisticated and determined in its nature, which is incredibly alarming for people who live and work in the countryside.
“As the UK’s leading rural insurer, we know the impact of rural crime goes well beyond the practicalities of farming.
“It’s the unnerving feeling that criminals have boldly staked out and targeted farmyards and fields, often a few feet from the family home. It’s also living in fear of repeat attacks, knowing that thieves are always looking for new ways to target rural communities.
“It’s the unnerving feeling that criminals have boldly staked out and targeted farmyards and fields, often a few feet from the family home.”
NFU Mutual Regional Manager for the North East Dave Smith
Mr Smith said it was important for insurers, farmers, manufacturers, police and politicians to continue to work together to “provide a united response” to the challenge.
“We will also continue to support farmers directly to help protect their livelihoods, offer expertise as the main insurer of farmers and provide advice to tackle rural crime,” he added.
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos agreed “collaboration is key to tackling rural crime effectively”.
“Rural crime is very different from urban crime with the scale, cost and social impact underestimated, under-reported and not fully understood.”
Rachel said the NRCU is “a great example of farmers, policymakers, and the Police and Crime Commissioners working together at both national and local levels to protect UK farming businesses from criminal gangs.”
