Andy Dunbobbin prioritises rural and wildlife crime across Wales 2026

Key Points

• The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, accompanies officers and farmers’ representatives during Rural Crime Action Week (6–11 September 2026).
• On Wednesday 9 September, the PCC joins Welsh farming unions with the Rural Crime Team and calls on a wildlife expert to discuss investigation and expert witness matters.
• Rural and wildlife crime has been set as an agenda point in the North Wales Police and Crime Plan for 2025-2028.
• The PCC encourages local residents to report rural crimes as he believes that community information helps identify perpetrators and allocate resources.
• A special edition of the North Wales Matters podcast with the NFU, FUW, and police cyber and rural crime teams will be released from 7 September.
• Engagement events have involved the Anglesey Show, Merioneth Show, and a Ruthin Town Hall event on rural crime prevention and cyber security.
• The matter has been discussed at a Strategic Executive Board meeting.

Wales (Wales Times) September 11, 2026 — North uk/police/">Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin is set to join officers and farming representatives this week as part of efforts to tackle rural and wildlife crime, with activities centred on Rural Crime Action Week running from 6 to 11 September 2026. The PCC will join North Wales Police’s Rural Crime Team on Wednesday 9 September to meet Welsh farming unions before visiting a wildlife expert to discuss investigations into wildlife crime and the role of an expert witness during such inquiries. The visit forms part of a wider campaign bringing together North Wales Police, the Office of the PCC and partner organisations to engage rural communities, promote crime prevention and ensure rural voices inform policing priorities.

What is happening during Rural Crime Action Week in North Wales?

Rural Crime Action Week, running from 6 to 11 September, is being used to highlight ongoing work to protect farming communities and address rural offences across the region. As reported by staff at Leader Live, the campaign involves North Wales Police, the PCC’s office and partners engaging with rural communities, promoting prevention measures and ensuring rural voices help shape policing priorities. The PCC’s office confirmed that throughout the year it has worked alongside the force and partners to raise awareness of crime prevention and encourage reporting.

On Wednesday 9 September, Mr Dunbobbin will join the Rural Crime Team to meet Welsh farming unions and later visit a wildlife expert to discuss wildlife crime across North Wales and the role of a wildlife crime expert witness during investigations. The week also coincides with operational activity elsewhere, including joint patrols by Police and Natural Resources Wales targeting illegal off-roading on protected sites in Halkyn, Denbighshire, as reported by Leader Live.

Why has the PCC made rural and wildlife crime a priority?

Rural and wildlife crime is identified as a priority area in the North Wales Police and Crime Plan 2025–2028. As reported by Wrexham.com, the PCC’s office is working alongside the force and partner organisations to engage with rural communities and raise awareness of crime prevention measures. The issue was also examined at a recent Strategic Executive Board meeting, where Andy Dunbobbin joined chief officers from North Wales Police to review force performance and progress against priorities within the Police and Crime Plan.

PCC Andy 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.”

How are police and partners engaging with farmers and rural residents?

Throughout 2026, the commissioner and his team have attended major agricultural events, including the Anglesey Show and Merioneth Show, where engagement stalls provided opportunities for direct conversations with farmers, rural business owners and residents. Earlier this year, farmers, landowners, rural businesses and residents gathered at Ruthin Town Hall for a rural crime prevention event aimed at strengthening community safety across North Wales. As reported by the PCC’s office, the event, Preventing Rural Crime: Staying Secure Online and on the Farm, was jointly organised by the Office of the PCC, North Wales Police, the Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales and farming wellbeing charity Tir Dewi. Attendees received practical guidance on tackling rural crime and improving cyber security, while partners highlighted the importance of reporting incidents and intelligence to help police build a clearer picture of offending across rural areas.

A new edition of the PCC’s North Wales Matters podcast has also been released to coincide with Rural Crime Action Week. The special episode features contributions from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW), North Wales Police’s Cyber Crime Team and Rural Crime Team, highlighting challenges facing rural communities and the collaborative work underway to address them. The episode was recorded at the Anglesey Show and is available from 7 September.

What scrutiny and performance reviews have taken place?

The issue of rural crime was examined through the commissioner’s scrutiny programme. At a recent Strategic Executive Board meeting, Andy Dunbobbin joined chief officers from North Wales Police to review force performance and progress against priorities within the Police and Crime Plan. As part of a detailed review of rural and wildlife crime, the commissioner received updates on regional and national partnerships supporting the work of the Rural Crime Team; police performance and emerging trends relating to rural and wildlife crime; resources dedicated to investigating rural offences and how they are deployed; and prevention initiatives and engagement work designed to increase public confidence in reporting crime and sharing information.

What advice has been issued to the public?

PCC Andy Dunbobbin said:

“I would also encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses rural crime to report it. Information from our communities is vital in helping North Wales Police identify offenders, target resources effectively and keep our rural areas safe.”

As reported by Wrexham.com, the meeting also looked at regional and national partnerships supporting the Rural Crime Team and efforts to encourage people to report offences and share information with police. For incidents on protected sites, Natural Resources Wales has urged the public to report illegal off-roading and pollution via its hotline or Crimestoppers, as covered by Leader Live in relation to Halkyn.

Background to the development

Rural Crime Action Week is a national campaign used by forces and PCCs to focus attention on offences affecting countryside communities, including machinery theft, livestock worrying, hare coursing, fly-tipping and wildlife offences. In North Wales, the campaign aligns with the Police and Crime Plan 2025–2028, which identifies rural and wildlife crime as a priority area for action. The PCC’s office has previously held prevention events, such as the Ruthin Town Hall seminar on staying secure online and on the farm, and has maintained a presence at agricultural shows to gather intelligence and provide advice. Operational activity during the week has included joint patrols with Natural Resources Wales targeting illegal off-roading on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, alongside ongoing work by the Rural Crime Team with landowners and partners on prevention and detection.

Prediction: how this development may affect rural communities and stakeholders

If the heightened engagement and reporting drive during Rural Crime Action Week leads to more incidents being reported and better intelligence sharing, North Wales Police may be able to deploy resources more precisely and pursue offenders more effectively, potentially reducing losses from theft and damage in the coming months. For farmers, landowners and rural businesses, clearer channels to report crime and access prevention advice could lower risk exposure and improve confidence in engaging with police, while the podcast and show-based outreach may sustain awareness beyond the action week. For wildlife and environment stakeholders, the focus on expert witness roles and joint patrols with Natural Resources Wales may strengthen enforcement against illegal off-roading and habitat damage on protected sites, provided reporting continues and partnerships remain active.