Famers are being hit by thefts depriving them of their livelihoods 'all too often', says Oxfordshire MP
Oxfordshire MP is calling on government for more funding to combat rural crime
Last updated 15th Apr 2025
An Oxfordshire MP is urging the government to further invest in policing to help tackle rural crime, as ‘thefts are depriving farmers of their livelihoods’.
Latest statistics from NFU Mutual, the National Farmers Union insurance company, estimates rural crime cost the UK £52.8m in 2023, including nearly £9m in the South East region.
Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock says, “I hear far too many stories from the farming community and others living in the rural community about theft from their farms.
“Farms rely upon their equipment in order to be able to conduct their farming where sometimes that equipment is very valuable and all too often, we're seeing thefts that are depriving farmers of their livelihoods.
“What we really need is a very convincing Rural Crime Strategy from the government that will ensure adequate community police officers who will be able to keep our farms safe and protect the resources and the goods that sit on farms so that our farmers can proceed with confidence.”
Only last week the government confirmed plans for an increase to Neighbourhood Policing for 2025/26.
Thames Valley Police is set to receive over £6m in funding to recruit an additional 68 police officers.
Mr Miller says “it's partly a question of investing in the staff” but also a question of making sure the police have the best equipment.
He said: “My constituents tell me they do not see the investment in neighbourhood policing reaching rural areas. I was speaking to some local officers the other day, who explained to me that they're sharing vehicles between different groups, which means they can't always get out to police areas when they need to.
“They might be able to get a vehicle that's quite suited to an urban area, but actually if the crime is taking place down a track, they can't take that vehicle down there.”
Mr Miller also believes that “too many of our qualified police officers are spending too much time on paperwork and being tied up in that rather than being on the frontline”.
He adds: “We would call on the Home Office to look at ways of making the work of police officers more efficient.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have announced the National Rural Crime unit to increase collaboration by police forces in rural areas and target serious organised crime groups involved in crimes like equipment theft.
“We have committed to implementing the Equipment Theft Act and will engage with those most affected to inform next steps. Through our flagship Crime and Policing Bill, there will also be new powers for the police to enter and search premises where stolen items have been electronically tracked by GPS.”