Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to tackle rural crime in Lancashire.

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for communities. That is why this Government is committed to cracking down on crime and disorder in rural areas, with tougher powers for the police to tackle antisocial behaviour, and to prevent farm theft and fly-tipping.

The National Rural Crime Unit, takes the lead on improving co-ordination and partnership working, which provides police forces with specialist operational support in their responses to rural crime, such as the theft of farming or construction machinery.

We are also committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which aims to prevent the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting.