Farmers urged to report theft as Rural Crime Week begins
The financial and emotional impact of rural crime in Northern Ireland is being highlighted as Rural Crime Week NI 2026 kicks off.
Running from September 7-11, the campaign will focus on the efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Rural Crime Partnership to prevent and tackle crime in rural communities.
Local police officers will be carrying out dedicated rural crime-focused activity, while social media will be used to provide practical advice and information to help them protect homes, farms and businesses.
People will be supported and encouraged to report crime and suspicious activity in their rural area.
The campaign will also highlight issues such as road safety, violence against women and girls, scams and fraud, alongside farm security and crime prevention.
Police
Superintendent Johnston McDowell, rural crime lead for the PSNI, said police officers work throughout the year "to prevent and detect crime, identify those responsible and support people who have been affected by rural crime".
"We also work closely with An Garda Síochána and other law enforcement agencies to tackle criminality which crosses policing and geographical boundaries.
"Often when we talk about rural crime, people will understandably think about the theft of farm machinery, livestock, tools or equipment.
"These crimes can of course have a significant impact on livelihoods and on people’s sense of security and tackling them remains an important part of our work, however rural crime and community safety are much broader than these crime types alone," he said.
Superintendent McDowell said this week bring focus to the concerns of rural communities and highlight the support and advice available.
"As a collective our focus is on preventing crime, identifying and disrupting those responsible for rural crime and supporting victims.
"Reports from the public, alongside information gathered by our officers and partners, help us build a clearer picture of offending, identify patterns and direct policing activity where it is needed," he said.
Impact
Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir said the campaign "provides an important opportunity to recognise the negative impact of crime on rural communities and to support those affected".
"Domestic abuse can be a hidden and particularly harmful issue in rural areas, where isolation and limited access to services may make it more difficult for people to seek help.
"Alongside tackling issues such as farm theft, livestock worrying and environmental crime, DAERA will continue to work with partners through the Rural Crime Partnership to help protect rural communities, prevent harm and ensure people can access the support they need," he said.
Rural crime
NFU Mutual estimated that rural crime in Northern Ireland costed £2.2 million in 2025, representing a 24% increase from the previous year.
Ulster Unionist deputy leader and agriculture spokesperson Diana Armstrong warned that Northern Ireland is one of only a handful of regions where rural crime losses is rising.
She noted that the UK-wide cost of rural crime fell by 6%.
The MLA urged farmers and rural residents to report every incident, warning that under-reporting weakens the case for rural policing resources.
"Behind those figures are farm families who no longer feel safe in their own yard.
"The theft of a quad, a tractor or a GPS unit is not an inconvenience. It stops a business dead in the middle of a working week, and the fear it leaves behind lasts far longer than the insurance claim.
"What concerns me most is what we are not seeing. Recorded agricultural crime has been falling while losses rise, and the Ulster Farmers' Union is clear that many incidents never get reported at all.
"I understand the weariness behind that. When a farmer believes nothing will come of a call, they stop making it.
"The difficulty is that policing is resourced on the basis of recorded demand, so every unreported crime makes the case for rural policing weaker.
"My appeal this week is simple. Report it, every time, on 101, or anonymously through Crimestoppers," she said.
The MLA urged government to meet farmers halfway" by providing "proper resourcing for rural policing".
