Minister Announces Continued Support for Rural & Wildlife Crime Units at Rural Crime Conference.

The National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) will bring together leaders from government, policing, academia, and frontline support services for its Annual Conference 2026, taking place Tuesday 24 March at The Milner Hotel, York.

The 2026 NRCN Annual Conference marks a number of important firsts for the network. It is the first time the event has been hosted in York, and the first time a Crime and Policing Minister has addressed the conference, with Rt Hon Sarah Jones MP delivering a national keynote on rural harms. It comes as government commits to continued funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the National Rural Crime Unit, with over £800,000 in total for the next financial year. This commitment to investment in national rural and wildlife crime capability underscores the Government's recognition of rural crime as a serious, evolving threat requiring long-term, coordinated national action.

The Conference also sees a Chief Constable speaking at the event for the very first time, with North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Tim Forber providing an operational perspective on rural policing challenges and innovation. Together, these milestones reflect the growing national recognition of rural crime as a serious and urgent issue affecting communities across the UK.

With national policy direction, lived experience and specialist research all represented, the conference will also explore four urgent themes:

• Rural domestic abuse, stalking and sexual violence
• The increasing impact of serious organised rural crime on farming and rural communities
• Isolation, mental health and community resilience
• The human impact of rural, heritage and wildlife crime

Quotes:

The Rt Hon Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Policing, said:

“Rural crime devastates local communities yet often goes unseen. That's why we're boosting neighbourhood policing, continuing to invest in specialist units and giving officers better tools to pursue offenders and give rural communities the protection they deserve.

 “By strengthening our partnerships with farmers, landowners and community groups, we can build a safer countryside – one where criminals know they will be caught, and every resident feels heard.

 “And under the Government's Waste Crime Action Plan, fly‑tippers will be forced to join clean‑up squads, restoring pride across our towns, villages and countryside.”

Tim Passmore, Chair of the National Rural Crime Network, said:

“Continued government funding for the rural and wildlife crime units is a vital step forward, and we welcome this commitment. But we also know it cannot stop here. Rural communities still face deep‑rooted fears about their safety, and more must be done to ensure they feel protected, supported, and heard.”

“The harms facing rural communities go far beyond what appears in crime statistics. From domestic abuse to wildlife crime, people's lives are being deeply affected—often out of sight and out of mind. This conference brings national partners together to confront those realities and drive the change rural communities deserve.”

Nick Turner, NFU Mutual Chief Executive, said: 

“As a major funder of the National Rural Crime Unit, we welcome the Government's commitment to provide further support for that unit and strengthen their response to criminality in the countryside.

“We know the disruption rural crime causes to day-to-day farming activities, from the financial implications to the negative impact on mental health, which is why we have invested nearly £2million over the past five years to help tackle rural crime.

“Co-ordinated efforts from law enforcement, politicians, insurers, farmers, and manufacturers are crucial in delivering a united response to the challenge of rural crime.” 

Lucy Charman, the CLA's National Rural Crime Network representative, said:

“Rural crime blights the countryside, so additional funding is welcome. 

“Farmers and communities – many already struggling with isolation – have had enough of criminals and violent organised gangs targeting them. They deserve to feel safe and protected.

“This new funding is a step in the right direction in the fight against rural crime, and must be part of a wider package to equip more officers as well as improve rural training for call handlers and neighbourhood policing teams.”

Sarah Lee, Director of Policy at the Countryside Alliance, said:

“This funding is welcome news for rural communities, who have long felt overlooked and left to cope with rising levels of rural crime. It sends a clear signal that the government recognises the importance of protecting rural people and their livelihoods. But there is still much to be done, rural communities will be watching closely to see this positive step develop into action that places the countryside at the heart of government policy.”