Rural Crime in Scotland

That the Parliament expresses concern over the findings of a report published on 5 August 2019 by NFU Mutual on rural crime in Scotland, which states that incidences of rural crime have increased by 62% since 2018; notes that rural crime can be varied and range from farm machinery and tool theft to stealing and de-tagging livestock and attacks on livestock by out of control dogs in the countryside; understands that it is suggested by NFU Mutual and Police Scotland that rural crime is becoming more sophisticated and professional, with organised gangs now targeting farms due to their unique isolated locations and the perpetrator's low chance of being caught and prosecuted; further understands that the report also warns that farmers are increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks as they diversify into systems which require technology but without the support of a large company to provide online security; welcomes what it considers the trailblazing work of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), which is made up of Police Scotland, NFU Scotland, Dog’s Trust, National Sheep Association and several other rural industrial leaders, in raising awareness of rural crime among Scotland’s agricultural community; understands that SPARC is showing farmers and agricultural workers what steps they can take to prevent rural crime from happening; encourages Scotland’s agricultural community to engage with the work of SPARC and to take time to understand how they can best protect their farm, livestock and equipment from being targeted by rural crime, and thanks the agricultural community in Scotland for working tirelessly to produce the nation's food and world-renowned produce.