Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rural Crime

Monday 17 November 2025 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government plans to deploy 3,000 additional community police officers by next April.
  • More than 2,000 wildlife crimes were recorded last year, but fewer than 50 resulted in convictions.
  • The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, brought forward by a Conservative MP, is supported by the Government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Crime & Law Enforcement Community Security
Context

Constituents are concerned about equipment theft, wildlife crimes, and drug dealing in broad daylight in parks and villages. The question references the Government's programme to prevent organised criminals from targeting young people.

Question

There is no doubt that my constituents are concerned by crimes such as equipment theft and wildlife crime, but they are also really worried about drug dealing taking place in broad daylight in parks, in our villages and in country lanes. Can the Minister tell us what the Government’s drug strategy is to stop our young people being targeted by organised criminals, and also to improve community policing in rural places so that those criminals do not have the confidence to target our young people so willingly?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

We are putting 3,000 extra community police in our neighbourhoods by next April, and there will be a named officer that people can contact. The hon. Member is absolutely right to highlight the wider drugs problem. Since we came into power, this Government have put in place a very successful county lines programme, which is targeting the lines where people are forced, and often exploited, to take drugs across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Improving community policing in rural places was not directly addressed with specific commitments or timelines beyond naming an officer by next April.

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Q2 Neil Duncan-Jordan Lab Poole
Crime & Law Enforcement Environment
Context

2,000 wildlife crimes were recorded last year but fewer than 50 resulted in convictions. The question references the Government’s commitment to consult on strengthening the Hunting Act 2004 and ensuring effective enforcement.

Question

More than 2,000 wildlife crimes were recorded last year, but fewer than 50 resulted in convictions. I therefore welcome the Government’s commitment to consult on strengthening the Hunting Act 2004. Will the Minister update the House on what discussions she has had with departmental colleagues to ensure effective enforcement of any forthcoming legislation? Will the Home Office consider making key wildlife offences, including foxhunting, notifiable crimes so that these crimes are recorded and prioritised by police forces?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

My hon. Friend is right to highlight those crimes and the need for us to prioritise them in a way which they were not under the previous Government. The National Police Chiefs’ Council strategy on rural and wildlife crime will set operational and organisational policing priorities for tackling those crimes, and it will be published imminently.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific discussion with departmental colleagues was not detailed, and making key wildlife offences notifiable crimes was not directly addressed.

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Q3 Matt Vickers Con Stockton West
Crime & Law Enforcement Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

A tradesman’s tools are stolen every 21 minutes, causing severe costs and misery for victims. The question references the sale of stolen goods at car boot sales and calls for a plan to address these issues.

Question

Rural crime and tool theft are out of control. A tradesman’s tools are stolen every 21 minutes, and when a farmer or tradesman has their equipment stolen, it causes complete misery and costs them severely. Their means of work are then all too often sold in broad daylight at car boot sales. Will the Government adopt our rural crime and tool theft plan to crack down on the sale of stolen goods and on the misery being caused to so many farmers and tradesmen?

Answer from The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)

The hon. Gentleman will know that we are committed to the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and fully support its intentions. Indeed, it was brought forward by a Member of his own party—the hon. Member for Mid Buckinghamshire (Greg Smith). We support the Act and are working with colleagues across the policing landscape to ensure that we can do just that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Government's specific actions beyond supporting an act were not detailed, and there was no commitment to adopting a plan or addressing the sale of stolen goods.

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