The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has urged the government to make rural crime a clear national priority following the Home Office’s announcement that Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) positions will be abolished when their current term ends in 2028.
PCCs, first introduced in 2012, have worked closely with farming communities across the country, engaging with the NFU and wider rural stakeholders to address issues such as machinery theft, livestock worrying, hare coursing, and fly-tipping. The National Rural Crime Network has also played a key role in liaising between PCCs, local authorities, and law enforcement agencies to ensure rural voices are heard.
Under the government’s planned reforms, policing functions will transfer to elected mayors and new governance structures from 2028. In areas without mayors, these responsibilities will fall to elected council leaders. For Wales, the government has said that “the unique circumstances of devolved local government arrangements” will be taken into consideration.
NFU Vice-President Rachel Hallos praised the work of PCCs, saying:
“Crimes like fly-tipping, livestock worrying, and machinery theft are not just costly but emotionally distressing. Farms are more than just businesses—they are homes, and everyone deserves to feel safe in their own community.”
She added that the transition to new policing structures offers an opportunity to create a national approach to rural crime:
“As policing functions now transfer to elected mayors, we look forward to working with the Mayoral Strategic Authorities and future Policing and Crime Boards from 2028 onwards. That transition must deliver a stronger national focus on rural crime, and we will continue to press for a national cross-departmental taskforce to make sure rural communities are properly protected.”
The NFU has long called for such a cross-departmental rural crime task force to tackle persistent failures in addressing rural theft, which cost the UK approximately £44.1 million in 2024.
The government has confirmed that there will be continuity of support services for victims and witnesses currently provided by PCCs. The decision to abolish PCCs is part of a “major series of reforms,” and the upcoming Police Reform White Paper will outline further measures to improve standards, restore local neighbourhood policing, and introduce a new National Centre of Policing.
Rachel Hallos concluded:
“We await the upcoming White Paper with interest, but what is clear is that rural communities must not be left as the poor relation in the governme