Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice

No. 268: Preventing crime on Australian farms : issues, current inititatives and future directions

Marissa McCall and Peter Homel
ISBN 0 642 53826 3 ; ISSN 0817-8542
November 2003

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Abstract

The National Farm Crime Surveys and other research into farm crime have revealed a high level of repeat victimisation among farmers. In view of this finding, this paper asks what is being done, or not being done, to help prevent crime occurring on farms. The authors review the available literature on attitudes towards crime prevention and current crime prevention methods used by farmers, as well as issues affecting crime prevention strategies on farms, including the low reporting rate of farm crime to the police, stock management techniques and the need for a visible rural police presence. The paper also highlights the pressing need for existing rural crime prevention initiatives to be properly evaluated, and argues that the area most likely to have the greatest impact on reducing rural crime patterns will be a focus on repeat victimisation.

References

• Media release: One in three farm crime victims affected more than once
• Project information: Farm Crime Surveys
• Information on how to order this publication