Irish Farm Crime Study

Researchers: Dr Nicola Hughes and Dr Matt Bowden
Faculty: Arts & Humanities
School: Social Sciences, Law & Education
Research Hub/Centre: The Culture & Society Research Hub
Keywords: Agricultural crime, crime victimisation, Irish farmers, policing and criminal justice

Summary of the Impact: The study was reported in the broadcast and print media. From the launch of the report on 9^th June 2023 to 27^th June 2023 the research generated significant media attention, with 50 separate reports in the Irish print media, fostering public awareness and debate about farm crime. The involvement of stakeholders such as rural affairs correspondents and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) facilitated a broader public discourse on rural crime issues.

Research Description: The purpose of this study was to understand attitudes towards farm crime, criminal justice responses and crime prevention measures among Irish famers, and to establish what measures might be taken to reduce the incidence of farm crime across Ireland, and in so doing to develop a list of crime prevention measures which individual members of the farming community might consider implementing. To accomplish this, a quantitative survey was deployed to collect data from Irish farmers. The data were collected between July 2022 and November 2022.

Description of the Impact: TU Dublin has spawned a collaborative relationship with the Irish Farmers Association. It is a baseline study that can be replicated. It has generated a relationship between the researchers and other researchers working in the field of rural crime, leading to conference presentations and invitations to speak at national and European events, such as the National Victims of Crime, the European Society of Criminology and the Irish North-South Criminology Conferences in 2024. The study identified and recommended specific crime prevention measures that farmers can implement, such as locking farmhouses, storing equipment out of sight, and installing alarm systems and CCTV. The findings provide valuable insights to An Garda Síochána (Irish Police), highlighting areas for improvement in their approach to rural crime and suggesting the need for more patrols and dedicated farm crime units. By providing farmers with knowledge about crime prevention and encouraging them to take proactive measures, the study empowers the farming community to enhance their own security. In identifying prevalent types of farm crime and suggesting prevention measures, the research helps protect the economic resources of farmers, contributing to the overall economic stability of rural areas. Through addressing crime prevention and working towards reducing farm crime, the study contributes to reducing the fear of crime among farmers, enhancing their overall sense of security and well-being. The study serves as a baseline that can be replicated in future research, contributing to the academic field of rural criminology and providing a foundation for further studies on farm crime and rural safety.

What SDG goals does this contribute to?

1.4 - By 2030, ensure that all men and women, the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance.
2.3 - By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, Indigenous Peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
11.7 - By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green, and public spaces, for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
16.1 - Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
16.3 - Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
16.6 - Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
16.7 - Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.
17.16 - Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.
17.17 - Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

Evidence/Sources to Corroborate Research Impact:

From the launch of the report on 9^th June 2023 to 27^th June 2023 the research was reported 50 separate times in the media.

Research References:

Hughes, N. & Bowden, M. (2024). Republic of Ireland. In Harkness, A. & Ceccato, V. International Farm Crime (forthcoming).
Harkness, A., Hughes, N., Bunei, E. & Eman, K. (2024). Police and trust: The cases of Australia, Ireland, Kenya and Slovenia. In Harkness, A. & Ceccato, V., International Farm Crime (forthcoming).
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