Fears of post-Covid rural crime surge as cost claims soar

The cost of UK rural crime rose by more than 40% in the first quarter of 2022, new figures from NFU Mutual show, as criminals make up for time lost during the coronavirus lockdowns.

The rural insurer estimated claim costs of £12.9m in the first three months of this year, compared with £8.8m in the same period of 2021, suggesting a worrying return to pre-pandemic rural crime levels.

NFU Mutual’s 2022 Rural Crime Report shows the cost of rural theft was an estimated £40.5m across the UK last year, down from £44.7m in 2020.