Samuel Kurtz, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, has expressed his anger at the recent statistics showing a sharp rise in the cost of rural crime in Wales, the highest level recorded in more than a decade.
According to new figures from NFU Mutual, rural crime cost Welsh communities an estimated £2.8 million in 2024, an 18% increase on the previous year. Wales is the only UK nation to have experienced a rise in rural crime, while the total cost across the UK fell from £52.8 million to £44.1 million.
The figures point to a growing trend of organised criminal activity targeting farms and rural properties. The most commonly stolen items remain quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), which are essential to day-to-day farm operations and often costly to replace.
The impact of this rise in crime is being felt acutely in areas like Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, where incidents of theft and livestock loss are placing additional pressure on already strained rural businesses. Many farmers have had to invest in expensive security upgrades in the face of repeated targeting.
Despite efforts by police forces in Wales to enhance rural crime teams and introduce new technologies, including DNA asset-marking kits and upgraded surveillance, the vast geography and isolated nature of rural communities make prevention and response particularly challenging. Potential cuts to the policing budget following the Labour Chancellor’s Spending Review will cause further concern that this issue is not being taking seriously.
Commenting on the figures, Kurtz said:
“These figures are both alarming and deeply disappointing. Rural communities in Wales are being let down.
“Criminals see the countryside as an easy target, and it's vital that we invest in both policing and preventative infrastructure to reverse this trend. However, the UK Labour government’s recent Spending Review will certainly make policing more challenging and shows yet again that rural issues, and the concerns of rural communities, are just not on Labour’s radar at all.
“Farmers need real support, not just from the police, but from Government, to feel safe and secure in their homes and livelihoods. I will continue to stand up for these communities and ensure their voice is heard by both the Welsh and UK governments.”
