Police Work With Farmers in Bodmin to Tackle Rural Crime

Rural Crime Warning as Police Urge Farmers to Report Every Incident

Police have been strengthening links with farming communities in Cornwall as part of efforts to tackle rural crime, with a recent event in Bodmin focusing on encouraging farmers to report all incidents they experience.

The message shared by Rural Affairs officers from Devon & Cornwall Police was clear. Everyone deserves the same level of protection, whether they live in a busy town or a quieter rural area.

Bodmin together event brings farmers and police face to face

The two hour Bodmin together event took place on the evening of Wednesday 4th February and was hosted by Rural Affairs officers, supported by the Liskeard and Bodmin neighbourhood team.

The event aimed to connect police with members of the farming community, with a focus on empowering farmers to report rural crime such as livestock attacks and theft. Officers also raised awareness of the laws in place to help keep livestock safe.

This comes ahead of an update to the Dogs Protection of Livestock legislation, which is due to come into effect on 18th March 2026 and will offer increased protection for sheep, cows and other farm animals.

Police say reporting crime helps prevent more incidents

Rural Affairs officer PC Julian Fry attended the event and explained why reporting rural crime is so important.

Julian Fry said: “Events like these are so important in bringing together police and rural communities, as ultimately, we both have the same goal – to keep farmers, their property and their livestock safe.

“We know that incidents often go unreported, so this was an opportunity for us to highlight the importance of sharing information with us.

“We rely on reports from our farming communities to help us map when and where incidents are happening. This allows us to deploy resources efficiently to support with deterring and preventing further incidents.

“Having this evidence-base also means we can work with our partners to develop a holistic approach to tackle all crime affecting rural communities.”

He added: “So, please, if you live in a rural area and see a crime being committed, or if you are a farmer and have been affected by crime, please report it to us.

“We’re listening and taking action; I hope this recent event showed our commitment to preventing crime and keeping those in our rural communities safe, including those with four legs.”

Feedback to shape policing in 2026

PC Lee Skinner, who helped organise the event, thanked those who attended and shared their experiences.

Lee Skinner said: “Thank you to everyone who attended and to individuals who shared their experiences.

“Your insight, feedback and thoughts were extremely valuable, and will feed into our plans for policing and prevention activity throughout 2026.

“I’d also like to thank partners and local businesses who came along to the event to showcase the support available to our rural community.”

Partners and businesses present included ATV Trac, Shearwell Data, Mole Valley, Cornish Mutual, Farm Cornwall, Cornwall National Landscapes, FCN, NFU, Harpers Feed, Trevor Wayborn from The Sheep Show, CLA and Trading Standards South West.

Scale of the problem across the farming sector

A recent survey from the National Sheep Association found that almost 87% of sheep farmers experienced one or more dog attacks on their flock in 2024.

According to the National Farmers Union, these incidents are estimated to have cost the industry almost £1.8 million.

For more information about rural crime, visit the Devon & Cornwall Police page on rural crime.

To report a rural crime that has already happened, call 101 or report it online via Devon & Cornwall Police. If a crime is taking place, call 999.