North Wales Police spotlight rural crime efforts during campaign 2026

Key Points

• North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin will be utilizing the occasion of Rural Crime Action Week (6–11 September 2026) to highlight the efforts being made towards safeguarding farming communities.
• Rural Crime Action Week will bring together North Wales Police, the Commissioner’s office, and various partner organizations in an effort to educate people on the importance of crime prevention.
• Mr Dunbobbin pointed out that rural and wildlife crime have been listed among the main objectives of the North Wales Police and Crime Plan 2025–2028 and encouraged citizens to report any cases of such crime.
• These activities include meetings with various farmers’ unions of Wales, meetings with a wildlife expert, and previous involvement in events such as the Anglesey Show, Merioneth Show and Ruthin Town Hall Prevention Event.
• The North Wales Matters Podcast which was recorded at the Anglesey Show includes the NFU, FUW and police rural and cyber crime teams.

Wales (Wales Times) September 2026 – North uk/police/">Wales Police are using National Rural Crime Action Week to set out ongoing efforts to protect farming communities and tackle rural offences across the region, with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, leading public messaging and engagement. The week-long campaign runs from 6 to 11 September 2026 and brings together the force, the Commissioner’s office and partner organisations to engage rural communities, promote crime prevention advice and ensure that rural voices inform policing priorities.

Rural Crime Action Week aims and partners

Rural Crime Action Week is a national awareness campaign designed to put the experiences of rural crime victims at the centre of discussions about policing and to strengthen engagement between forces, farming organisations and rural residents. In North Wales, the campaign is being used to highlight work already under way to address rural and wildlife crime, which is identified as a priority area in the North Wales Police and Crime Plan 2025–2028.

As reported by Leader Live, Mr Dunbobbin said: “Rural communities make a vital contribution to the social, cultural and economic life of North Wales, and it is essential that they receive the support and protection they deserve.” He added: “Through my Police and Crime Plan, I have made tackling rural and wildlife crime a priority, recognising the particular challenges faced by those living and working in our countryside.”

Commissioner’s message on reporting and engagement

Mr Dunbobbin underlined the importance of community reporting in helping police target resources and identify offenders in rural areas. He said: “Whether through engagement at agricultural shows, community events, scrutiny of Police performance, or meeting directly with residents and farmers, we are committed to listening to rural communities and ensuring their concerns are acted upon.” He also urged anyone who experiences or witnesses rural crime to report it, stating: “Information from our communities is vital in helping North Wales Police identify offenders, target resources effectively and keep our rural areas safe.”

Scheduled events and meetings during the week

On Wednesday, 9 September, Mr Dunbobbin will join the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team to meet with Welsh farming unions and later visit a wildlife expert to discuss wildlife crime and the role of a wildlife crime expert witness during an investigation. These meetings are intended to strengthen links between policing, farming representatives and specialist advisers on wildlife offences, which form part of the broader rural crime picture.

Throughout 2026, the Commissioner and his team have attended major agricultural and rural events, including the Anglesey Show and the Merioneth Show, to engage directly with farmers, rural business owners and residents. Earlier in the year, a rural crime prevention event was held at Ruthin Town Hall, offering advice on staying secure both online and on the farm, organised in partnership with the Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales and Tir Dewi.

Podcast and scrutiny work on rural crime

The second edition of the North Wales Matters podcast is dedicated to rural crime and was recorded at the Anglesey Show. The episode features contributions from the National Farmers’ Union, the Farmers’ Union of Wales, and North Wales Police’s Cyber Crime Team and Rural Crime Team, providing a platform for rural stakeholders to discuss risks and prevention strategies.

Mr Dunbobbin has also recently reviewed rural crime as part of his scrutiny programme at a Strategic Executive Board meeting with North Wales Police chief officers, reinforcing the focus on rural and wildlife crime within the force’s strategic planning.

Wider rural crime context in 2026

National Rural Crime Action Week 2026, running from 6 to 11 September, is supported by police forces, farming organisations, rural businesses, community groups and crime prevention specialists across the UK. Campaign activities in different areas typically include crime prevention events, farm visits, vehicle marking initiatives, security demonstrations and community engagement campaigns.

In other parts of the UK, police have carried out targeted operations against organised rural crime, including multi-force days of action resulting in arrests and the recovery of stolen plant machinery. In North Wales, recent policing work has included clampdowns on quarry crimes in Gwynedd and operations addressing anti-social use of off-road vehicles in Wrexham, reflecting the range of issues affecting rural and semi-rural communities.

Background to the development

Rural Crime Action Week was established as an annual campaign to raise awareness of offences affecting farms, small businesses and residents in countryside areas, and to ensure that rural communities have a strong voice in discussions about the future of policing. The 2026 edition places particular emphasis on putting victims’ experiences at the heart of the national conversation and on keeping rural policing within government reform agendas.

In North Wales, the focus on rural and wildlife crime has been embedded in the Police and Crime Plan 2025–2028, which sets out priorities for the force and the Commissioner’s office. Recent legislative changes, including the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, which came into force earlier in 2026, have given police stronger powers to investigate livestock worrying, seize dogs suspected of attacking farm animals and seek unlimited fines in court. These changes form part of the wider policy backdrop against which North Wales Police and the Commissioner are operating during Rural Crime Action Week.

Prediction: how this development may affect farming communities and rural residents

If the engagement and reporting drive promoted during Rural Crime Action Week leads to higher levels of incident reporting and closer cooperation between farmers, residents and North Wales Police, rural communities may see more targeted patrols, faster intelligence-led responses and greater visibility of the Rural Crime Team in hotspot areas. For farming families and rural business owners, this could translate into improved deterrence against theft of machinery and livestock, better access to crime prevention advice, and clearer routes to raise concerns about wildlife offences and anti-social behaviour.

However, the impact will depend on sustained resourcing, consistent follow-up on reported incidents and the extent to which community feedback is integrated into local policing plans beyond the campaign week. If these conditions are met, Rural Crime Action Week in North Wales could help strengthen trust between rural communities and the police, encourage more timely reporting of offences and support longer-term reductions in rural crime affecting the region’s agricultural sector.