Safe & Sound toolkit
Practical guidance for staying safe, supported and informed

What is rural crime?
Rural crime covers a wide range of offences affecting countryside and village life, including:
- Theft of machinery, tools, vehicles, fuel and GPS equipment
- Livestock theft, injury or worrying
- Fly‑tipping and illegal waste dumping
- Damage to dry stone walls, gates, fencing and heritage sites
- Trespass, illegal off‑roading and anti‑social behaviour
- Wildlife and environmental crime
Even incidents where nothing was taken are important to report – patterns matter.
Why this toolkit matters
Rural crime isn’t always dramatic – but its impact can be lasting. From fly‑tipping and trespass to organised theft and livestock worrying, incidents often go unreported.
This toolkit is designed to:
- Help you spot and reduce risks
- Encourage reporting – even when incidents feel minor
- Connect you with local support
Every report and every small action helps protect our rural communities.
Report it – Even if it feels small
Information from you leads to arrests, charges and convictions.
Police rely on information from rural communities to:
- Identify crime patterns and hotspots
- Link incidents across locations
- Target patrols and resources
- Tackle organised rural crime
How to report:
- Emergency: always call 999
- Non‑emergency: call 101 or report online
- Anonymous reporting: Crimestoppers
If it doesn’t feel urgent, it’s still worth reporting.
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