The cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland fell by 9% in 2024 compared with 2023, according to figures released by the National Farmers Union (NFU) Mutual.
The report released today (June 16), shows that the cost of crime in Northern Ireland fell from £2 million in 2023 to £1.8 million in 2024.
Rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, Hannah Binns said: “In recent years we’ve seen rural crime becoming increasingly organised, serious and persistent in nature, with thieves willing to pull out all the stops to get what they desire, and sadly we saw that trend continue in 2024.
“As a farmer’s daughter, I sadly have first-hand experience of the fact that rural crime goes beyond disrupting farm work and impacting food production.”
“It has a real impact on the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families, causing severe stress and sleepless nights as the rural community lives in fear that those responsible might return,” Binns added.
According to NFU Mutual, 96% of those surveyed across the UK said that crime was negatively affecting farmers’ mental wellbeing.
The insurance company said it is “imperative” that farmers speak up about any concerns they may have and seek support.
Rural crime
Separately, last week (June 2025) two teenage, learner permit drivers, were separately stopped by the Kilkenny Road Policing Unit (RPU) for using their mobile phone while driving a tractor.
According to An Garda Síochána, Kilkenny RPU stopped one 17 year old for using a mobile phone while driving a tractor towing a ‘big square baler” last Thursday (June 12).
Later the same day Gardaí confirmed that Kilkenny RPU also stopped a 16 year old driving a tractor pulling a “big slurry spreader”.
They confirmed that the teenage drivers were “both on learner permits, both on mobile phones in north Kilkenny”.
It is an offence to use a mobile phone while driving and this carries a €120 fine and three penalty points.
According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), learner permit drivers can still receive penalty points, but at a lower threshold of seven penalty points leading to disqualification.
The RSA states that a learner permit licence allows an individual to drive on all public roads, except motorways, for the purposes of learning to drive.
