Rutland MP Alicia Kearns has called for police and central government to give a bigger focus to rural crime.

The MP made the plea on the influential ConservativeHome website, which is followed by party supporters, including politicians.

Mrs Kearns referred to a report from insurance company NFU Mutual, which citing growing numbers of crime said "our rural communities are being hammered by organised crime."

The MP argued: "This is a crisis in our rural communities, and it must end. But we need resources, and rural people need to be heard and supported. It's time to level up on rural crime.

"Too often when policymakers, the public and the press think of rural crime, it's almost idyllic: the stakes often low, thefts the actions of overly boisterous young men, and the impact minimal.

"But in fact, much of rural crime involves the theft of heavy equipment, the very tools that farmers and businesses rely upon to make their living, put food on our tables and maintain our beautiful countryside."

The MP praised central government for increasing police numbers, but said more needed to be done to 'level up' policing, with more support for the mental health of farmers as well, noting they have among the highest rates of suicide in the country.

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