Reduction in Rural Crime Across Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes the findings of a recently published report by the insurers, NFU Mutual, which it understands evidences that rural crime in Scotland has fallen by 48% from 2022, with a 20% fall in the £1.7 million cost of rural crime through reported thefts in 2020; understands that the reduction in Scotland’s rural crime is markedly different from the situation in England, where rural crime has increased by 22%; further understands that the report noted strong recovery rates of stolen agricultural machinery, increased forensic marking and higher levels of reporting of rural crime, as well as a wider understanding of rural crime offences, such as livestock worrying, as key reasons for the fall in, and associated prevention of, rural crime across Scotland; notes, however, that the report demonstrates that it is not only opportunistic thieves who may travel just a few miles to commit rural crimes, but that it is internationally organised criminal gangs targeting high-value agricultural machinery and GPS kits because they can be sold all over the world, and that this has been exacerbated due to the demand for agricultural machinery across the continent as a result of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine; concurs with a statement by Constable Lynn Black from Police Scotland’s National Rural and Acquisitive Crime Unit that “it is extremely encouraging to see that the cost of rural crime within Scotland has almost halved, however, we cannot and will not become complacent in our efforts to further reduce the number of rural offences occurring throughout the country”, and praises the work of all involved in the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), including Police Scotland, National Farmers Union Scotland, Scottish Land and Estates, the Scottish Young Farmers Association and Forestry and Land Scotland, and all other partners, for the fantastic work that they have undertaken to raise awareness of rural crime, including livestock worrying, among the Scottish public through intense outreach, as well as their work to investigate and bring to justice those who commit rural crime offences.