The Liberal Democrats are urging all police forces in England and Wales to establish specialist rural crime units, including named local contacts for rural communities and better access to technology like drones. The party says the policy would be funded by scrapping Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), arguing that rural areas are being neglected despite rising crime rates.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey highlighted increasing threats to farmers, livestock theft, and other rural crimes, citing NFU Mutual data showing a 22% rise in rural crime costs since 2020, reaching £52.8 million last year. Currently, just 0.4% of police personnel (619 officers and staff) are assigned to dedicated rural crime teams across 37 forces.
Labour criticized past Conservative cuts to neighbourhood policing, pledging to add 13,000 officers by 2029, while the Conservatives blamed Labour’s national insurance changes for potential police funding shortfalls. Reform UK called for a focus on frontline policing over “diversity and inclusion” roles, and the Greens linked rising rural crime to cuts in public services.
The Lib Dems, who made similar proposals last year, hope the issue will resonate in May’s local elections, particularly in rural constituencies.
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