AN MP is proposing tougher punishments for farming equipment theft to be included in the UK Government’s Crime and Policing Bill.
Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, Harriet Cross, wants an amendment to the bill that results in tougher sentences being given for the theft of farming equipment above £10,000.
The move by Ms Cross to increase the penalties comes after the costs of rural crime in the UK rose to an estimated £52.8m in 2023, an increase of 4.3% from 2022.
The bill is currently passing through the House of Commons and is at committee stage. It will be debated, and if approved by the Commons, it will go onto the House of Lords and then be given royal assent before becoming law.
She said:“Equipment theft severely impacts farming businesses and their operations. It is especially disastrous at critical times of the year, such as during the harvest.
“There has been a worrying rise in rural theft due to the increasing presence of organised crime gangs operating across rural areas.
“We need the perpetrators caught but to do this our police must be given the powers and resources they need.
“Tougher sentences for thieves who steal farm equipment will help to deter offenders and ensure persistent offenders are properly punished.”
