Rural crime cost Northern Ireland £2.2million last year a rise of 24% according to new figures from NFU Mutual

And the rise in Northern Ireland contrasts with a 6% fall UK-wide, showing the need to remain vigilant.

The cost of quad bike theft has soared in Northern Ireland and across the UK, according to the report.

Rural crime continues to blight UK farmers, costing over £40m in 2025 and forcing farmers to adapt or leave industry.

The cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland rose by 24% last year to £2.2million according to new figures from NFU Mutual, despite the UK-wide investment and collaborative efforts against organised and serious crime.

The increased cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland contrasts the UK-wide figures published today (Thursday 28th May) in NFU Mutual’s new report, which reveals that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £41.5m in 2025, down from £44.1m the previous year.

Criminals continued to target high value farming equipment and stock throughout the UK in 2025, with the cost of agricultural vehicle, quad bike, and livestock theft all increasing last year.

This was also a worrying trend in Northern Ireland, with a huge 122% increase in agricultural vehicle thefts, including a large rise in quad bikes being stolen.

The estimated cost of livestock theft in Northern Ireland also rose by an alarming 107%.

Although it dates back centuries, this crime has become highly organised, in line with the wider trend in rural crime.

Rearing livestock is a long-term investment of time, planning and labour, which is why the theft of farm animals can be traumatic for farmers and their families, both financially and emotionally.

Rural crime has become increasingly organised in recent years, and the industry and law enforcement has become more organised in response.

One sign of this working is the fact that the theft of global positioning system (GPS) units saw a dramatic fall in cost across the UK, down 80% year-on-year to nearly £250,000.

Nick Turner, Chief Executive of NFU Mutual, said: “For more than 20 years, NFU Mutual has called for a stronger response to rural crime, and we know the financial and emotional toll it takes on farmers.

“As a mutual, our support goes beyond paying claims: last year we invested over £500,000 in rural crime initiatives, including ongoing funding for the National Rural Crime Unit and the UK’s first dedicated livestock theft officer.

"We also collaborate with the unit to identify at-risk areas and support recovery efforts.”

Hannah Binns, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, added: “Rural crime is more organised than ever, with criminals prepared to go to extreme lengths, and 2025 proved no exception.

“Targeted investment in rural crime fighting initiatives and industry collaboration with law enforcement is essential in responding to this relatively new threat, and it is helping drive down crime in many areas.

"However, the increased cost of rural crime to Northern Irish farmers shows that we cannot afford to be complacent, and that organised criminals will continue to find new ways to target farmers.

“The impact of rural crime extends beyond financial loss, undermining trust and connection, often leaving a trauma that can remain with farmers, their families and wider communities for a lifetime.

“This is felt deeply in Northern Ireland, with roughly 75% of the country’s land used for agriculture, making the impact of rural crime more locally visible.

“It’s vital that we continue to be vigilant against rural crime, and the general UK-wide trend of the past few years shows that a collaborative response between Government, police, farmers, rural communities, insurers, and manufacturers can tackle rural crime.

“But as the rise in Northern Ireland shows, fighting rural crime is not straightforward, and so we will continue to do all we can to help disrupt the criminals who prey on countryside communities.

"We are proud to be a member of the Rural Crime Partnership in Northern Ireland, working with police, government bodies, the farming union and businesses to help protect communities in Northern Ireland.

“Only a coordinated effort across industry, farming and law enforcement can deliver a unified response to rural crime. United, we can tackle it head on.”

A survey of 119 NFU Mutual Agents across the UK, who are embedded in their local communities and have strong links with farmers, found that rural crime was having wide-reaching impacts.

More than nine in 10 (91%) believed rural crime was disrupting farming in their area, and 79% knew farmers who had been targeted repeatedly.

Alarmingly, 29% had seen farmers change practices or leave the industry altogether due to rural crime.

And 90% believed their rural crime teams in their local areas needed more funding.