South Yorkshire Rural Crime Initiative

We’re working together with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to prevent rural crime and support local residents, farmers and businesses.

The South Yorkshire Rural Crime Initiative was launched in March 2026 and brings together local partners to protect rural areas and provide practical support.

The initiative, which has been funded by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and is being delivered with South Yorkshire Police, has been developed in recognition of the disproportionate impact that rural and wildlife crime has on many rural communities.

Through the initiative, together with SYMCA, we are putting more investment and co-ordination into tackling rural crime so we can reduce rural crime and fear of crime, bring offenders to justice and keep rural communities safe. 

What support is available?

Rural residents and businesses across South Yorkshire are invited to apply for a financial contribution towards crime prevention products and materials, which can be used to help target harden your property, therefore lessening your risk of becoming a victim of crime.

The funding can be used to purchase and install products such as CCTV cameras, security lighting, enhanced signage, drones and other target hardening measures, following advice and guidance from our officers.

Varying levels of financial support are available, from £500 up to £2,000, dependant on a range of factors, including previous instances of crime reported at a property, and the determined risk of being a victim in the future. These factors will be assessed upon application.

To be eligible to apply for support, you must meet the following basic criteria:

• Be a resident or business based in a rural area in South Yorkshire
• Have been a victim, or near victim, of rural crime previously
• Perceive there is likelihood you may become a victim of rural crime based on housing high value plant/equipment at your property
• Perceive there is likelihood you may targeted by off-road vehicles on our land
• Perceive there is likelihood you may become a victim of wildlife crime due to the wildlife present on your land
• Believe there are opportunities for further crime prevention measures and target hardening to be put in place at your property, to provide greater protection.

The funding, which is available for a limited time, will be a contribution towards the overall cost of the materials purchased by the farmer, business owner or resident. All funding will be distributed by SYMCA.

How can I apply for support?

If you meet the above criteria and wish to apply for support, please email [email protected] and we will advise on next steps and share an application form with you. Officers will also be out visiting farmers and rural businesses across South Yorkshire, signposting to the scheme and how to apply.

What other activity is being delivered as part of the initiative?

We know that rural crime doesn’t just affect property – it undermines the sense of safety and trust that holds communities together. When crime rises, we know communities feel more isolated and fragmented.  

From stolen equipment to damaged crops, rural crime hits livelihoods hard. But the emotional toll – fear, stress and disruption – can be even greater, especially in close-knit communities where the impact is significant.  

We are delivering heightened engagement and enforcement activity in your local area to tackle rural crime. This includes working together with the community and partners to ensure a joined-up approach to tackling rural crime and wider issues such as fly tipping and vandalism, which are dealt with by local councils. Together, we will be delivering joint operations as well as environmental improvements such as target hardening perimeters and planting hedgerows in vulnerable locations.

Report to us

All incidents matter and help us build our intelligence picture around rural and wildlife crime. Reporting information about offending helps us to build a clearer picture and ensures we can effectively direct resources. 

Your information matters – even if it’s something you've heard about, think someone might be planning to do, or it's something you're not sure is a crime, we still want to know about it. You can report rural and wildlife crimes online here or call 101. If a crime is in action, always call 999.

You can also find out who your local officers are and speak to them about your concerns by searching for your area on our website homepage.

If you don’t feel comfortable sharing information directly with us, you can also report information or crimes completely anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on their website by calling 0800 555 111.