Cheshire MPs back open letter from Cheshire PCC as organised crime targets farms

An open letter from Dan Price, Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), urging equipment manufacturers and the Government to take action to reduce expensive and essential GPS device theft from farm vehicles, has been backed by five Cheshire MPs.

Dan Price and the MPs, together with the National Farmers Union (NFU), the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) and local farmers came together to discuss and highlight the issue of serious organised crime and its impact on the agricultural community.

They signed a letter that calls on agricultural equipment manufacturers to retrospectively add forensic marking on GPS devices, quad bikes, tractors and excavators to deter theft and aid with tracking stolen goods.

The letter also asks the Government to ensure legislation is fit for purpose by revising the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 to include modern immobilisation and forensic marking on all of the above equipment.

Farming communities are a critical backbone to the UK’s economy contributing £13.7bn in 2023. However, the effects of serious organised crime on farming and the wider repercussions on the agricultural industry has far reaching implications.

Farm equipment theft by organised crime has soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Data from NFU Mutual showed that in 2023 insurance claims for GPS theft rose by 137% to an estimated £4.2m and there is real concern that this technology can be reappropriated to be used in weapons.

Organised crime gangs frequently visit several farms in one night, often returning to the same farm to steal replaced devices.

GPS allows farmers to create farm maps with precise acreage for field areas, road locations and distances between points of interest. It enables them to accurately navigate to specific locations in the field, year after year, to collect soil samples or monitor crop conditions.

The theft of GPS devices can cause financial hardship for farmers, not only due to the cost of the unit, but also the knock-on financial implications that being without the device can cause. Delays in being able to carry out essential work with crops or having to revert to older methods of carrying out the work, effects farmers’ ability to maximise small windows of favourable weather.

Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dan Price, said:

“Rural communities can often feel that their voices aren’t heard but I want to make it clear to rural communities in Cheshire, that I see you and I hear you.

“By bringing Cheshire’s MPs together to hear from those on the frontline of the agricultural industry about the impact this crime is having, I am galvanising their support to strengthen the national efforts the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) is spearheading in bringing about changes to the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill.

“Cheshire Constabulary has been working hard to tackle rural crime with some fantastic results. As a result of this, its Rural Crime Team has been awarded the NRCU’s Rob Oliver MBE Award for 2024, which recognises the outstanding contribution to the fight against agricultural and construction machinery theft. But I know there is always more to be done.

“I am confident, that by carrying on this good work and starting the ball rolling to make change happen here in Cheshire, we can reduce crime, ensure our ongoing food supply and protect the livelihoods of rural communities, not only locally but across the UK.”

NFU Cheshire county president Stuart Yarwood said:

“Farmers across Cheshire are feeling the devastating impact of GPS thefts on our livelihoods. The theft of essential equipment not only disrupts the work we do, but also poses significant financial challenges.

“We welcome this event as a vital opportunity to work with the newly elected PCC, police and key stakeholders to combat organised crime in our rural community. It’s crucial that measures such as the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill are extended to provide greater protection for farmers, so we can better safeguard our farm businesses and enable farmers to continue our vital role in food production.

“We fully support coordinated efforts such as this to prevent these crimes and will continue to work closely with all parties to bring about these necessary changes. In the coming months, we look forward to building on the progress already made with PCC Dan Price and local authorities to ensure farmers are better protected from these crimes and that adequate resource is made available for the police.”

Congleton MP Sarah Russell said:

““The perception of our Cheshire rolling fields as idyllic and crime-free, is sadly outdated. Crime in rural areas skyrocketed by nearly a third from 2011-2024. The Labour government will implement the first ever cross-government rural crime strategy.

“Farmers have three times’ the average male suicide rate. There is no one factor that accounts for this, but living with crime and the fear of crime is bound to have an impact on anyone’s mental health. Labour will look after those who are producing our food and stewarding the countryside.”

Alongside local farmers, the NFU, NRCU and Dan Price, the MPs who signed the letter were; Andrew Cooper MP, Connor Naismith MP, Sarah Russell MP, Tim Roca MP and Aphra Brandreth MP.

You can download the signed open letter, a case study from a farmer who has been a victim of crime and images of the PCC and MPs with the letter by clicking on this link: 

https://ace.media/press-releases/g2vX

GPS (global positioning systems), housed on the roof of a tractor, are used more and more in farming and have multiple benefits including allowing work in the field when there is low visibility, precision sowing, recording drainage problems, weed mapping and recording crop yield variations across a field.

Theft of GPS devices from farming vehicles is dramatically on the rise at a cost of £4.2m in 2023 according to NFU Mutual, an increase of 137% from the previous year.

Positive action has been taken here in Cheshire:

Officers arrest three men following investigation into GPS thefts from farms | Farm News | Farmers Guardian

About the role of PCC

As part of his role, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is responsible for commissioning a variety of services to provide help and support to victims of crime. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, is a non-political body that enables the PCC to fulfil his role and responsibilities.

Find out more.