Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rural Crime

Monday 13 January 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial funding for North Shropshire's police force in 2025-26 will be 316.3 million, an increase of 80 million from the previous year.
  • Rural crime issues such as fly-tipping and theft of heating oil are causing significant problems for families and businesses in Suffolk Coastal.
  • Charlotte Cane requested a meeting to discuss rural crime impacts in Ely and East Cambridgeshire, including hare coursing and theft from farms and sheds.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The question addresses the issue of underreporting crime in rural communities, which affects funding allocations based on reported incidents. Helen Morgan cites her constituents' reluctance to report crimes due to perceived lack of response from police.

Question

I thank the Minister for her answer. She will know that the funding allocations for policing are based on reported crime, not underlying crime rates. In rural areas such as North Shropshire, people say that they do not always report a crime when it happens. Residents in Oswestry and Whitchurch tell me that they do not bother to phone the police because they do not think anyone will come. Will she consider reassessing the formula to ensure that in rural areas the funding reflects the level of underlying crime?

Answer from Diana Johnson

I reassure the hon. Lady that funding for the year 2025-26 for her police force will be £316.3 million, an increase of £80 million on the figures from this year. I encourage all people who are victims of crime to report it. We need that information so that the police can then make the required resources available.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister provided funding details but did not address the request for reassessing the allocation formula.

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Q2 Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Lab Suffolk Coastal
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security Environment
Context

The question highlights specific issues such as fly-tipping and theft of heating oil, which are causing significant problems for families and businesses in rural areas. Jenny Riddell-Carpenter requests updates on the progress made to tackle these crimes.

Question

In my constituency, fly-tipping on farms and private land and the targeted theft of heating oil are causing profound problems for families and businesses alike. Will the Minister update me on progress to tackle rural crime, and will the Home Office consider setting up a rural taskforce, working across Departments, to tackle these issues?

Answer from Diana Johnson

I absolutely share my hon. Friend’s concerns about the extent of rural crime, particularly fly-tipping. Recent research shows that 80% of farmers say they are affected by fly-tipping. I am particularly concerned about the targeted theft of heating oil from families and businesses at this time of year. As I said, we will be strengthening neighbourhood policing and we will see more patrols in rural areas, which will help. We will also have forthcoming legislation to provide the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with the powers it needs to support local authorities in exercising new fly-tipping enforcement powers.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 Charlotte Cane Lib Dem Ely and East Cambridgeshire
Crime & Law Enforcement Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question seeks to discuss the impact of rural crime on residents in Ely and East Cambridgeshire. Charlotte Cane requests a meeting with the Minister to address these issues.

Question

Will the Minister meet me to discuss the effect that rural crime, particularly hare coursing and, as we have heard today, theft from farms and sheds, has on residents in Ely and East Cambridgeshire?

Answer from Diana Johnson

I am always very happy to meet hon. Members. The national wildlife crime unit has been doing some very good work, including overseeing the national police response to hare coursing and Operation Galileo, which has resulted in a 40% reduction in offences in that area, but I am very happy to meet the hon. Lady.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q4 Alistair Strathern Lab Hitchin
Policing & Resources Community Security Environment
Context

The question addresses the decline in rural policing presence leading to increased incidents of shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, farm break-ins, and fly-tipping. Alistair Strathern demands action to ensure local police have adequate resources and powers.

Question

Right across the towns and villages I represent, people have seen, as the rural policing presence has declined, predictable increases in shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, farm break-ins and fly-tipping. We cannot allow that to be tolerated. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that my local police have the resources and powers they need to take those crimes seriously?

Answer from Diana Johnson

The neighbourhood policing guarantee applies not just to towns and cities, of course, but to rural communities, so we will see a far greater police presence out and about in those communities. The Home Office is currently working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council on a rural and wildlife crime strategy, to crack down on some of the crime and disorder that has worsened in recent years.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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