Ulster Unionist Agriculture spokesperson Jo-Anne Dobson MLA has highlighted that farmers and rural dwellers are footing the bill for the actions of rural criminals.

The Upper Bann MLA has expressed her concerns that increased crime in rural areas across Northern Ireland is leading to insurance companies increasing their premiums.

“I have been inundated with constituents who are getting calls from their insurance companies regarding the renewal of their home and contents insurance. It appears that anyone who is associated with a farm business will be subjected to questions about the proximity of their main house to the farm buildings and then have their case referred back to the main insurer before a renewal quote can be given.

“This has happened to a number of my constituents and I am concerned that the increase in rural crime, specifically the theft of equipment from farms, is leading companies to increase their premiums. It is unacceptable that hard-working farming and rural families are forced to pay because of the actions of criminals.

“A recent Office of Fair Trading report revealed that in Northern Ireland, consumers living in rural areas pay between 30 and 70 per cent more for their car insurance, compared to consumers in rural areas of Great Britain. The actions of a small number of dishonest claimants are partly to blame for our car insurance rates being so high here and similarly it now looks like law-abiding farming families will be paying increased insurance on their farm businesses because of rural criminals.

“Farmers spend their lives building up their farm businesses and are rightly extremely concerned about thefts from their properties. I am concerned that if concrete steps are not taken by Executive Ministers to stamp out rural criminality, innocent families will continue to pay the price for the thoughtless actions of others.”