Crime is rife on farms, yet reporting remains stubbornly low. Here’s how new initiatives are making progress

<p>Crime on farms can have devastating effects on farmers and their families —financial, psychological and social. Crime can also have national implications, too, if it disrupts or damages farm production.<br> <br>But too often, farm crime is considered "just a rural issue", something out of sight and mind.<br> <br>This is why the Centre for Rural Criminology at the University of New England launched a crime survey of farmers last year in New South Wales. We wanted to gain a better understanding of the often hidden dimensions of crime in rural areas to inform decision-making by government, police, farmers and other organisations.</p>