The East Derry MLA, Claire Sugden has said that rural crime must be understood as more than thefts from farms, calling for a continued response that recognises the full range of harms affecting rural communities.
The statement from the Independent MLA, was released today (September 15) following Rural Crime Week 2025, which ran from September 8-12 in Northern Ireland, England, and Wales.
In her statement, Sugden said: “Rural crime is not just about stolen machinery or livestock – although those losses can devastate a farm business – it is about people’s lives and safety.
“It is about women experiencing abuse behind closed doors with nowhere to turn; it is about firearms that must be stored responsibly; it is about waste dumped on our landscape and animals being attacked in fields.”
Sugden welcomed that this year’s campaign, which was led by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and various organisations, highlighted a wide spectrum of these issues.
She remarked: “It is encouraging that government and its partners are recognising that rural crime is not one-dimensional.
“By talking about violence against women and girls, road safety, firearm security, and environmental crime alongside farm thefts, they are painting a more honest picture of what rural communities experience.
“Awareness weeks are important, but rural communities need to know that this effort will carry on throughout the year.”
Rural Crime Week
Seperately, as part of the Rural Crime Week campaign, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir and the Minister of Justice, Naomi Long visited Women’s Aid in Newry to highlight the issue of domestic violence in rural communities.
Minister Muir stated: “Domestic violence and abuse is sadly a reality in far too many homes in Northern Ireland.
“But the impact is particularly acute in rural communities, where victims can feel isolated and need support, and that’s why it’s important that Naomi and I are here together in Newry, supporting the good work that’s being done by Women’s Aid.”
Minister Long added: “We will do all that we can, as ministers, to try and tackle this issue, but for me, we have to do that in partnership with wider society, and we need to change the attitudes on which violence against women and girls is so often predicated.”
