PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE AND FARM CRIME IN CORNWALL

Rural crime is seen within the academic literature to have been overlooked in favour of urban crime. There has only been a small amount of research published on farm crime as a specific problem within rural crime. Research into this area originates from American and Australian studies. British farm crime research is limited despite reports which indicate British farms are suffering from significantly high levels of crime. This project aims to build upon the issues raised in a previous study on the nature, extent and the impact of farm crime in rural Wiltshire. The study briefly covered farmers' perceptions of the police this area has been developed in full for this project. Police perspectives of farm crime is a topic which has not received any attention. By looking at another rural region similarities and differences can be compared. This research focuses on farmers perceptions of the police and police perspectives of farm crime in Cornwall. In doing so it attempts to fill the gaps within the academic literature. The findings of this research indicate that there is a clear difference between the opinions of the farmers including the policing they have experienced and the way in which the police officers view the levels of service they provide to the farming community. The findings of this research indicate that there is a need for access to the police to be improved and for police attitudes towards farm crime to be addressed. The priority of farm crime and rural crime are documented as needing development. The scope for possible future research is considered