A RALLYING call has been made to encourage everyone to do their bit to tackle rural crime as figures reveal its extent and cost to farmers in the region.

Crimestoppers says that rural communities continue to suffer at the hands of criminal gangs and they are appealing for residents and visitors to ensure they report suspicious activity.

The charity’s appeal follows a new NFU Mutual report revealing highly-organised criminals plaguing rural areas during the pandemic.

From its latest claims’ statistics issued earlier this week, NFU Mutual estimates that rural theft cost the UK £43.3m in 2020 and in the North-East it cost £7.8m.

And Crimestoppers passed on over 7,400 anonymous pieces of information given to them from North-East residents in 2020.

Anonymous examples of rural crime reported nationally include illegal hunting, tradesmen burying asbestos and burning rubbish on farmland and machinery thefts.

Crimestoppers says rural crime is repetitive and organised - without information it can’t be tackled – and visitors to the North-East can help by being the eyes and ears of more isolated communities and report anonymously what they see.

Ruth McNee, Crimestoppers' North-East regional manager, said: “Our charity knows how damaging crime in the countryside can be: to local communities, to rural businesses, to farmers, wildlife and the environment.

“Every day we hear from people who are in the know about those involved in damaging our beautiful countryside across the North-East, but there is so much more we can do.

"By telling us anonymously what you know, whether you live or are visiting rural areas, your information can help make all the difference.

“A team of professionals working at our charity’s UK Contact Centre anonymise all information received – to ensure the person giving the details is never identified - before passing it on to police to investigate.

"Your voice really can make a difference.

"Working together, we can help protect our precious countryside and rural environment, communities and business from the harm caused by these criminal gangs.”

Crimestoppers has been working with organisations including Neighbourhood Watch to help raise the profile of rural crime and is running a month-long campaign to encourage people to report it.

John Hayward-Cripps, Chief Executive of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said: “With headlines often focused on crime in the cities, it is easy to forget rural crime, but rural crime is increasing and is a serious issue.

"From hare coursing to machinery theft, the impact of rural crime on victims’ lives and livelihood can be enormous, with victims often left with long-term anxiety. "Together we can stop it.”

To report rural crime 100 per cent anonymously, visit the Crimestoppers website Crimestoppers-uk.org and fill in a simple and secure anonymous online form or call their 24/7 UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111, 365 days of the year.

In an emergency, always call 999.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated North Yorkshire Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054