Deputy Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Dave Evans met with farmers yesterday (Tuesday 9 September) as part of National Rural Crime Action Week.
The week, running from 8–12 September, highlights the impact of crime in the countryside on residents and their businesses.
Dave joined officers from Staffordshire Moorlands Local Policing Team at Leek Cattle Market and met members of the rural community there.
While recent figures show a positive downward trend in reports of rural crime, the issue remains a priority for the Commissioner in his Police & Crime Plan.
Statistics from the NFU annual crime report for 2024-25 revealed that rural crime reports have fallen by 16.5% across the UK, with the Midlands seeing a drop of 31%.
Staffordshire has seen a 52.5% reduction in financial losses, down from an estimated £1.6 million in 2023 to £804,000 in 2024.
Dave said: “Although the cost of rural crime overall is reducing, the harm caused to individual victims and businesses can be significant. People in remote areas can feel more vulnerable and isolated, and the impact of crime can be greater on those living in the countryside.
“There is still more work to be done to drive down rural crime even further. Rural crime is a priority in the Commissioner’s refreshed Police & Crime Plan, and it is vital that Police and rural communities continue to work together to proactively tackle this kind of criminal activity.”
Last year, Staffordshire Police introduced a dedicated County Proactive and Rural Team to tackle this issue further and support rural communities.
Superintendent John Owen, of the Staffordshire Police partnerships and problem-solving team, said: “We do not underestimate the impact this type of crime has on our rural communities.
“That’s why we are committed to take robust action against this criminality, not only as part of this week of action, but every day.
“We have made significant investment in this area, and though we understand there is still more to do, we hope that this reassures the community that we will continue to do all we can to tackle rural crime and the issues that matter to people who live and work in our rural areas.”
