The cost of rural crime in the North West fell by 7% to £2.7million last year according to new figures from NFU Mutual, the UK’s leading rural insurer, demonstrating the effectiveness of investment and collaborative efforts against organised and serious crime.

This fall in the North West of England mirrors the wider UK trend in rural crime, published today (Thursday 28th May) in NFU Mutual’s new report, which reveals that it cost the UK an estimated £41.5m in 2025, down from £44.1m the previous year.

Although a co-ordinated response to rural crime has helped to bring the costs down in both the North West and the UK as a whole, organised criminals continued to target the countryside for valuable farming equipment.

A concerted effort from farmers, insurers and the police helped to significantly reduce the cost of theft of valuable GPS devices, demonstrating the value of concerted efforts to disrupt organised criminal groups.

However, the UK-wide theft of agricultural vehicles, quad bikes and livestock all increased last year.

The estimated cost of livestock theft throughout the UK also increased by nearly 30% to £4.5m last year. This trend was reflected in the North West, which also saw a 30% rise in the cost of the crime. Although it dates back centuries, this crime has become highly organised. Rearing livestock is a long-term investment of time, planning and labour, which is why the theft of farm animals can be traumatic for farmers and their families, both financially and emotionally.

Nick Turner, Chief Executive of NFU Mutual, said: “For more than 20 years, NFU Mutual has called for a stronger response to rural crime, and we know the financial and emotional toll it takes on farmers.

“As a mutual, our support goes beyond paying claims: last year we invested over £500,000 in rural crime initiatives, including ongoing funding for the National Rural Crime Unit and the UK’s first dedicated livestock theft officer. We also collaborate with the unit to identify at-risk areas and support recovery efforts.

“In addition, we also worked with local police forces to install 13 ANPR cameras across rural hotspots in England and Wales to track suspicious vehicles and disrupt criminal activity.”

Hannah Binns, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, added: “Rural crime is more organised than ever, with criminals prepared to go to extreme lengths, and 2025 proved no exception.

“Yet targeted investment in rural crime fighting initiatives alongside industry collaboration with law enforcement is helping drive down crime, with our latest figures highlighting a 7% fall year-on-year in the North West, to an estimated £2.7m.

“The impact of rural crime extends beyond financial loss, undermining trust and connection, often leaving a trauma that can remain with farmers, their families and wider communities for a lifetime.

“Alongside the fall in cost across the region and the UK, there are signs that the co-operation between government, police, farmers, rural communities, insurers, and manufacturers is bearing fruit in the fight against rural crime.

“But we cannot afford to be complacent. With proposed policing reforms on the horizon, it is crucial rural crime teams receive fair resources and specialist support to empower local forces to respond quickly to countryside incidents caused by organised and serious criminals.

“Only a continued, coordinated effort across industry, farming and law enforcement can deliver a unified response to rural crime. United, we can tackle it head on.”

UK-wide impact

Region or Country	2025 cost	2024 cost	% change from 2024
East	£5.9m	£6.3m	-6%
Midlands	£6.4m	£8.1m	-21%
North East	£7.6m	£7.1m	+7%
North West	£2.7m	£2.9m	-7%
Northern Ireland	£2.2m	£1.8m	+24%
Scotland	£1.4m	£1.2m	+14%
South East	£6.8m	£7.1m	-4%
South West	£6.2m	£6.7m	-8%
Wales	£2.2m	£2.8m	-21%
UK	£41.5m	£44.1m	-6%

*Estimated costs based on NFU Mutual claims statistics, rounded to the nearest £100,000. Percentage changes are based on exact figures.

A survey of 119 NFU Mutual Agents, who are often embedded in their local communities, found that 91% believed rural crime was disrupting farming in their area, and 79% knew farmers who had been targeted repeatedly.

Alarmingly, 29% had seen farmers change practices or leave the industry altogether due to rural crime. And 90% believed their rural crime teams in their local areas needed more funding.