皇家华人

Start of a trend

Derbyshire Dales MP John Whitby sponsored the event, urging his fellow MPs to do their utmost to 鈥渆nsure the next generation of farmers can afford to enter, thrive and stay in the farming sector鈥�.

鈥淭he protection of our rural communities must never be an afterthought,鈥� he added.

NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said: 鈥淲e know that when everyone pulls together 鈥� farmers, police, government and local leaders 鈥� we can achieve real, practical results.鈥�

Despite progress on key areas such as hare coursing, equipment theft and livestock protection driven by years of dedicated NFU lobbying, 鈥渨e mustn鈥檛 stop there鈥�, Rachel added.聽

鈥淚 see this as the start of a trend, rather than a one-off in the reduction of crime,鈥� said NFU President Tom Bradshaw, reflecting on NFU Mutual鈥檚 new figures.聽

NFU Mutual Chair Jim McLaren agreed, saying that 鈥渄espite the drop in numbers, there is no room for complacency鈥�.聽

鈥淲hen we stand united, we pose the strongest threat to criminals,鈥� he added.

Equipment theft law strengthened

Also in attendance was Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson who acknowledged that, despite the fall in the cost of rural crime outlined in the Mutual鈥檚 report, 鈥渢here is still more to be done鈥� on machinery theft.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we are implementing the Equipment Theft Prevention Act 2023 to combat theft and the resale of high-value equipment, and I hope very much to introduce secondary legislation later this year to commence the Act.鈥�

皇家华人worked closely with Greg Smith, MP for Mid Buckinghamshire on the Equipment Theft Prevention Act, which became law in 2023, giving the Home Secretary the power to make regulations that deter the theft and resale of quads and ATVs.

皇家华人would like to see the scope of the Bill widened in secondary legislation to include other agricultural equipment, with GPS theft reportedly costing NFU Mutual 拢1.2 million in 2024.聽

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said the NFU looked forward to working with the government to introduce the legislation to help ensure there is a 鈥渟ignificant deterrent鈥� in place.聽

Missed opportunity on family farm tax

The Minister also spoke of the value of hearing first-hand from farmers following a policing roundtable held at North Yorkshire HQ earlier this year. Dame Diana said she welcomed the suggestions made there on how to tackle rural crime and recalled, in particular, the impact on farmers鈥� mental health.

With last week鈥檚 Spending Review at the forefront of MP's minds, Tom said the NFU has welcomed the securing of the budget for agriculture but added the government has 鈥渕issed one opportunity鈥� to review its inheritance tax policy 鈥渢hat is creating that mental health burden鈥�.

He urged MPs in the room to continue to think about the 鈥渉uman impact that policy is going to have鈥�. 聽

Lives, livelihoods and the future of farming

In April last year, the government announced its rural crime strategy to stamp out crime and disorder, something which the NFU has long been calling for.

The strategy included tougher measures to crack down on criminal activities such as equipment theft, sheep worrying and fly-tipping.

皇家华人has continued its lobbying efforts focussing on key areas of legislation such as the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and the passing of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill, which is continuing to make its way through parliament. The government also consulted this year with the farming industry to strengthen and implement robust sentencing guidelines for hare coursing criminals following years of NFU lobbying.

鈥淥ur Investment and Innovation Blueprint sets out what is needed: better enforcement, properly funded rural policing and the tools to stop these crimes before they happen,鈥� said NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos.

鈥淔armers deserve to feel safe 鈥� in their homes, businesses and fields. Rural crime is not just about property. It鈥檚 about lives, livelihoods and the future of British farming.鈥�

See the day in pictures:

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NFU President Tom Bradshaw speaking at the Summer Reception 2025

L-R: NFU Mutual chair Jim McLaren, Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire Dame Diana Johnson, NFU President Tom Bradshaw and Labour MP for Derbyshire Dales John Whitby

Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire Dame Diana Johnson speaking at the Summer Reception

NFU Mutual Chair Jim McLaren speaking at the Summer Reception

L-R: Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen and Northumbria Superintendent Andy Huddleston

L-R: NFU Regional Director North David Hall, NFU North Regional Board Chair William Maughan and Markus Campbell-Savours (Labour MP for Penrith and Solway)

L-R: Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire Angus MacDonald, NFU President Tom Bradshaw and Efra Select Committee Chair Alistair Carmichael

L-R: NFU President Tom Bradshaw, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Victoria Atkins and Superintendent Andy Huddleston

L-R: Conservative MP for Bridlington and The Wolds Charlie Dewhirst, NFU Director General Terry Jones, Labour MP for Derbyshire Dales John Whitby and NFU Midlands Regional Board chair Jane Bassett

L-R: Plaid Cymru MP for Ynys Môn Llinos Medi, NFU Cymru President Aled Jones and Labour MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr Steve Witherden

L-R: Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne OBE, NFU President Tom Bradshaw, Conservative MP for North West Hampshire Kit Malthouse, Superintendent Andy Huddleston and Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore

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Photographs: Miranda Parry