One of David Skaith’s priorities as Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is focusing on tackling crime in rural areas.
At the most recent Police, Fire and Crime panel in May 2025 a report provided an update on how North Yorkshire Police are tackling rural crime.
It included how a project funded by the Combined Authority, using government money from their Safer Street Funding last year, has seen security bolstered at more than 1,500 farms across the region using DNA property marking kits.
The Combined Authority purchased 8,000 kits and is the largest rollout of DNA property marking in the country.
North Yorkshire Police’s rural task force initially targeted repeat victims in rural crime hotspot locations, offering each farm up to five kits and warning signs to mark high-risk agricultural vehicles and equipment such as trailers, quad bikes and tractor GPS devices.
The marking solution provided in the kits will last for at least five years outdoors and will reveal a unique code that links property with its rightful owner if the equipment is investigated.
The Rural Task Force also showcased the kits at local rural events last year such as Tractor Fest and the Great Yorkshire Show, which was an excellent way to interact with rural residents about the project, supporting them to sign up as well as discussing any other rural crime issues with them.
As a result of the DNA property marking project, North Yorkshire Police have seen a:
- 13% reduction in crime with only 3 farms being targeted where the DNA kits and signs have been installed. This contrasts with 72 farms being targeted where DNA kits were not in use.
- 30% reduction in quad bike thefts
- Reduction in theft of high-risk items noted between July 1 – December 31, 2024, compared to 2023.
Feedback from rural residents who signed up for the marking kits proves how much they’ve appreciated receiving them to help prevent future crime occurring on their properties:
Alec who is a farm owner in the Ryedale area, said: “Very happy to protect my equipment from future thefts. It acts as a huge deterrent to criminals and gives me peace of mind.”
Katie is a rural resident in the Richmond area, she said: “Pleased with the simple registration and feel reassured the kit will help reduce crime or help with recovery of stolen property.”
This scheme has been so successful at helping reduce rural thefts that North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force has received recognition from across the country. Their implementation of the property marking kits across the region is now seen as best practice, making York and North Yorkshire a rural trailblazer with other police forces now approaching them for advice on how to deliver similar projects in their areas.
