Researchers want farmers’ help with rural crime survey
© FLPA / John Eveson/REX/Shutterstock Researchers at University College London’s Department of Security and Crime Science have launched a survey aimed at improving their understanding of the causes of rural crime and how to prevent it.
“The UK and Irish landscape is predominantly classified as rural, yet we know very little about the where, why, when and how of rural crimes compared with crimes in urban environments,” said PhD student Dorothea Delpech.
“The research undertaken by UCL is aiming to better understand how to prevent crime on farms. For this we would like to canvass the opinions of readers with knowledge of the rural landscape.”
See also: Livestock worrying at seven-year high in Scotland
The survey has a particular focus on livestock theft and so-called “wildlife crime” – including hare coursing and badger baiting.
Questions cover aspects including the extent of these crimes, the time of year they are most prevalent and trends seen over the past three years.
The survey also seeks to assess the extent to which rural dwellers report crime, the police response encountered and the security measures taken to reduce exposure to crime.
“This work is a unique opportunity to find out about the effect of crimes against species, and encourage more research to better protect your interests,” said Ms Delpech.
“This is why we encourage you to contribute to this short survey, whether you have been a victim of crime, a witness of crime, or just very lucky so far.”