More than half of South East farmers targeted by criminals in 2020
A survey's found they are investing more in trying to prevent crime than those anywhere else in England
Farmers in the South East of England are calling for more support to tackle rural crime.
A survey by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) covering the issue found 59% of respondents were most likely to have experienced more than once crime during 2020.
The figures showed that 49% of crime victims reported at least once incident of flytipping.
44% reported at least one incident of trespass, while 39% reported falling victims to theft - with the most common types of items targeted being tools, equipment and vehicles and machinery .
On average, farmers surveyed have invested £3,994 on crime prevention measures over the past five years. But this figure was highest in the South East where an average of £6,358 was invested.
The true impact rural crime is having on farmers and their families is damaging both financially and mentally.
"I could be killed in the field and nobody would notice."
That was one of the comments left by a farmer during the survey which Brian Finnerty, spokesperson for the NFU, thinks explains how isolated those within the industry feel.
He said: "Others were saying it's impossible to grow crops at the moment without somebody driving a vehicle across it, in pursuit of hares for example.
"Another one said rural crime is like an additional tax on the business because they're spending so much money trying to keep their farm safe from criminals.
"It's the comments that people made that really highlight the impact rural crime is having and how isolated some of our rural communities feel at the moment."
NFU South East Regional Director William White said:
“The prevention and deterrence of rural crime must be a priority for future police and crime commissioners, as we’re explaining when we meet them in the run up to the PCC elections on 6 May.
"NFU’s rural crime survey shows that the region’s farmers and growers experience the adverse impacts of rural crime on a perennial basis, including serious, acquisitive organised crime such as the theft of high value machinery and GPS kits.
"The most common types of rural crime are fly-tipping, trespass, theft and burglary, and the cumulative impacts of these on our members makes running a farm business very difficult.
“We also know from our own experience that livestock worrying – dog attacks on sheep and cattle – is a huge problem and legislative change, with tougher penalties, cannot come quickly enough.”