September 17, 2026 - 96 views
Rural crime remains a concern for farmers and rural communities across North Wales, with agricultural equipment theft, wildlife crime and road-related incidents among the issues being tackled by police and their partners.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin has been learning more about the challenges during Rural Crime Action Week, visiting Wrexham and Ruthin to meet members of the force’s Rural Crime Team, the NFU and a wildlife crime specialist.
One of the issues discussed was the theft of high-value GPS equipment from agricultural machinery. Police say organised thieves can cross the border quickly, making it more difficult to recover stolen equipment.
The financial impact can extend beyond the cost of the equipment itself, with farmers potentially losing valuable operational data and facing higher insurance costs.
The latest NFU Mutual figures estimate that rural crime cost Wales around £2.2 million in 2025, down 21 per cent on the previous year. Across the UK, however, the cost was estimated at £41.5 million, with agricultural vehicle theft, livestock theft and quad bike and ATV theft all increasing.
During his visit to the NFU offices in Wrexham, the Commissioner also heard about efforts to educate young tractor drivers about road safety and mobile phone use, as well as the importance of encouraging dog walkers and visitors to respect farmland and livestock.
Dashcams on agricultural vehicles were also discussed. The NFU says footage can provide useful evidence when collisions involving tractors occur and can help farmers establish what happened when making an insurance claim.
Another challenge for rural policing is finding people when an emergency happens. Incidents can occur in isolated locations where there may be few obvious landmarks or easily identifiable addresses. The Commissioner and police representatives discussed the importance of training communications staff in the geography of rural North Wales so emergency calls can be located and responded to as quickly as possible.
The visit also highlighted wildlife crime. In Ruthin, Mr Dunbobbin met former wildlife ranger Mal Ingham, who now provides expert witness evidence in prosecutions involving wildlife offences.
Particular attention was given to badger setts. Badgers and their setts are protected by law, and specialist evidence can be important in establishing whether a crime has taken place and helping police build a prosecution case.
Police say wildlife crime can also be connected with wider offending, including animal cruelty, making specialist knowledge and evidence particularly important.
North Wales Police's Rural Crime Team says its role is not simply about investigating offences after they happen, but also preventing crime and working with farmers, landowners and rural communities to identify emerging problems.
PC Dave Allen said rural communities can face different challenges from those in urban areas and that strong relationships with farmers and other rural partners help police respond more effectively.
For North Wales, the challenge is particularly relevant because of the region's large farming communities and extensive rural areas. The latest figures suggest the overall financial cost of rural crime in Wales fell during 2025, but agricultural and livestock theft remain concerns for rural businesses.
The Police and Crime Commissioner's visit comes as Rural Crime Action Week highlights the importance of reporting incidents, protecting valuable equipment and maintaining close links between police, farming organisations and rural communities.
