Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with agricultural machinery manufacturers on the potential impact of enhanced security measures on agricultural vehicles on the level of rural crime.

Rural crime can have devastating consequences for countryside communities. That is why this Government is committed to tackling crime in rural areas.

We are committed to implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and support its intentions to fend off the theft and re-sale of high-value equipment, particularly for use in an agricultural setting. I recently met with Ruth Bailey, CEO of Agricultural Engineers Association on the 5th November 2024.

The Act requires secondary legislation before it can come into effect. We are currently considering the views of those who may be affected by the legislation and its regulations, including manufacturers, to understand the potential implications and determine the scope of the legislation, including what equipment it will include.