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The 2018 national rural crime survey, described as "stark and worrying" by Julia Mulligan (Chair of the National Rural Crime Network and Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire), reveals significant concerns across rural communities.

Key findings

• Perception of policing: Only 27% of respondents rate their local police as doing a good job – 11% lower than in 2015 and well below the national figure of 62%.
• Most common concerns: Fly tipping (57% of respondents) and speeding (32%) top the list, though these are not solely policing matters.
• Emotional and social impact: Crime and fear of crime cause emotional strain and loss of confidence, particularly among young people, families, and farmers. A third of rural people feel crime has a moderate or great impact on their lives.
• Farmers and businesses: 69% of farmers and rural business owners have been victims of crime in the past 12 months, with 60% fairly or very worried about future victimisation.
• Underreporting: Unreported crimes have increased by a third for residents and two-thirds for businesses since 2015, mainly due to lack of confidence that police and the justice system understand or address rural issues.
• Financial strain: The average financial impact of crime on rural business owners is £4,800 – 13% higher than in 2015.

Recommendations and examples of success

The National Rural Crime Network has produced ten recommendations from the survey, including changes to policing approaches and easier crime reporting processes.

However, there are examples where rural policing works effectively. For instance, the Kent Downs area of outstanding natural beauty collaborated with police, farmers, and others to prevent illegal and inappropriate access.

With police numbers down and fly tipping rising, the report suggests it is time to examine successful approaches in detail rather than repeating familiar statistics.