Presenter Tom Heap said 17,000 people filled out the survey, adding that the results made for ‘troubling reading’. The report focussed particularly on livestock theft, but mentioned a wide range of criminal activities that take place within the countryside.
NFU senior planning and rural affairs adviser, Suzanne Clear, said: “We hear a lot about urban crime issues, but less about rural crime, so it is really important that the National Rural Crime Network were prepared to ask the people living and working in the countryside about how criminal activity and the fear of criminal activity has directly impacted on them as individuals.
“We are pleased Countryfile has recognised this as a serious issue.
“The NFU works with police forces across the country to highlight the issues around farm crime in particular and promote initiatives to tackle rural crime and crime perception.
"We look forward to seeing the final results of the survey.”
The National Rural Crime Network was set up in July 2014 and is supported by 30 police and crime commissioners and police forces across England and Wales. The network also includes a wide range of other bodies with a deep interest in community safety and rural affairs, with the NFU represented on the executive board and NFU Mutual also supporting.
- Find out more about the National Rural Crime Network here.
- For more on the NFU’s work on countryside crime visit our rural concerns section here.
- Watch the latest episode of Countryfile here.