Concern as countryside crime doubles in north west

Crime in rural parts of Northern Ireland’s north west more than doubled last year, with police warning livestock and farm machinery are a “lucrative market” for criminals.

According to the latest Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) data, there were 228 agricultural crimes across Northern Ireland in 2023 – a rise of two on the previous 12 months.

However, in the Derry City and Strabane policing district, agricultural crime rose by 130% last year.
PSNI rural crime lead Supt Johnston McDowell said statistics “don’t account for the impact rural crime can have”.