Rural crime task force recovers more than £1m in stolen agricultural equipment since 2020

A rural taskforce has received "landmark funding" aimed at maintaining momentum and continuing to "hit criminals hard".

Northumbria Police's dedicated rural policing team was formed in June 2020 and tasked with preventing and tackling rural acquisitive crime, wildlife and poaching offences. Since its formation, the team has gone on to recover more than £1m worth of stolen agricultural equipment, while efforts are said to have helped cut poaching offences by nearly 50% since 2020.

The force recently became the first in the country to be awarded Safer Streets funding specifically to fight rural crime and protect the North East's most isolated communities. The funding will be used to develop a range of rural crime operations which will make use of technology including thermal imaging and number plate recognition.