Oral Answers to Questions

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Excerpts

Monday 13th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Helen Morgan (North Shropshire) (LD)]

4. What assessment she has made of the impact of crime on rural communities.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Suffolk Coastal) (Lab)]

14. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle rural crime.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I reassure the hon. Lady that funding for the year 2025-26 for her police force will be £316.3 million, an increase of £80 million on the figures from this year. I encourage all people who are victims of crime to report it. We need that information so that the police can then make the required resources available.

[Jenny Riddell-Carpenter]

In my constituency, fly-tipping on farms and private land and the targeted theft of heating oil are causing profound problems for families and businesses alike. Will the Minister update me on progress to tackle rural crime, and will the Home Office consider setting up a rural taskforce, working across Departments, to tackle these issues?

[Dame Diana Johnson]

I absolutely share my hon. Friend’s concerns about the extent of rural crime, particularly fly-tipping. Recent research shows that 80% of farmers say they are affected by fly-tipping. I am particularly concerned about the targeted theft of heating oil from families and businesses at this time of year. As I said, we will be strengthening neighbourhood policing and we will see more patrols in rural areas, which will help. We will also have forthcoming legislation to provide the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with the powers it needs to support local authorities in exercising new fly-tipping enforcement powers.