West Sussex MP ‘deeply concerned’ at rural crime surge

A West Sussex MP has expressed ‘deep concern’ after the cost of rural crime surged in the area.
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The cost in West Sussex surged 76 per cent, the fastest rate of growth anywhere in the UK, said Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith.

Figures from the NFU’s Rural Crime Report 2020 reveal that rural crime cost West Sussex £816,882 in 2019, compared to £464,119 in 2018.

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The sharp rise was driven by thefts of high-value tractors, quad bikes and other farm vehicles. Livestock theft also increased in 2019, with organised gangs taking large numbers of sheep, which are thought to be entering the food chain illegally.

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Andrew Griffith said: “Rural crime affects farms and villages alike in my constituency, and West Sussex has been by far the largest increase of this type of organised crime in the past year.

“As the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic begins to become clearer, I will be working with West Sussex Police and Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne to find out how we can work together to reverse this increase.”

In total, rural crime cost the UK £54.3m in 2019. This is a UK-wide increase of nearly 9% on the previous year, making it the highest cost recorded in eight years.