Only 0.25% of police designated to Cumbria’s rural crime team

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron has accused the Conservative Government of “neglecting” rural communities as new data reveals that only five police officers and staff are designated to the rural crime team in Cumbria - just 0.25%  of the overall workforce.

Through a series of Freedom of Information requests, the Liberal Democrats have uncovered how many officers and staff are assigned to rural crime teams in each police force in England and Wales.

Rural crime is defined as “crime and anti-social behaviour occurring in rural areas”, and includes many specific types of crimes that are unique to the countryside including livestock and machinery theft and fly tipping. These teams are focused on preventing and solving rural crime, with specialist knowledge, equipment and skills.

Not a single police force across England and Wales had more than 1% of its officers and staff deployed to rural crime teams, and Cumbria, despite being a rural county, has one of the smallest rural crime teams. 

These disturbing revelations come as rural crime remains on the rise. NFU Mutual’s 2023 Rural Crime Report revealed that in 2022, the cost of rural crime in Cumbria rose 12% to £815,000.

Tim Farron said: “There has been a shocking neglect of our rural communities from this Conservative Government.

“Local communities here in Cumbria are worried sick about the impacts of rural crime, and to have such a small number of officers dedicated to tackling this serious issue is shocking.

“No wonder so many cases are going unsolved and criminals are getting off the hook.”

Adrian Waite, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, said: “Many people think that rural crime is small scale, opportunistic and localised but it isn’t. Rural crime gangs are well organised and operate nationally and internationally. For example, much of the farm machinery that is stolen in Cumbria ends up outside Britain. Rural crime not only has a financial cost but creates insecurity and mental health problems for those affected.

“The Conservatives talk a lot about rural crime, but words are cheap and they have demonstrably failed to resource our police to tackle this growing problem.

“Designating just five officers to deal with rural crime in a county the size of Cumbria  shows how little the Conservative Party cares about this.

“If I am elected Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner I would strengthen the rural crime team and invest more in tackling rural crime, for example by installing more ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras.

“On 2nd May, people in Cumbria can tell the Conservatives that they’ve had enough of rural communities being neglected, by voting for me to be their next Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.”