--- title: Industry welcomes parliamentary focus on rural crime and equipment theft description: Industry supports swift implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 to combat rural crime and protect vital machinery in construction and agricultural sectors. image: https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Rural_Crime.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/industry-welcomes-parliamentary-focus-on-rural-crime-and-equipment-theft#main-content) ![CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright](https://thecea.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright.png?width=3390&height=1817&name=CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_Reversed_Bright.png) - [Home](https://thecea.org.uk) - [About](https://thecea.org.uk/about) Show submenu for About - [Governance](https://thecea.org.uk/governance) - [Meet the Team](https://thecea.org.uk/meet-the-team) - [CESAR Scheme](https://thecea.org.uk/cesar-scheme) Show submenu for CESAR Scheme - [NCATT](https://thecea.org.uk/ncatt) - [Membership](https://thecea.org.uk/cea-membership) Show submenu for Membership - 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[UK Events](https://thecea.org.uk/uk-construction-equipment-events) - [International Events](https://thecea.org.uk/international-construction-equipment-events) - [Members' Forum](https://thecea.org.uk/members-forum) Show submenu for Members' Forum - [Members' Forum Documents](https://thecea.org.uk/members-forum-documents) - [UK Pavilion at bauma Munich 2028](https://thecea.org.uk/bauma-munich-2028) - [Benefits](https://thecea.org.uk/business-benefits) Show submenu for Benefits - [Enginuity](https://thecea.org.uk/enginuity) - [Robinson Grace HR](https://thecea.org.uk/robinson-grace-hr-consultancy-partner) - [Cranfield School of Management](https://thecea.org.uk/cranfield-school-of-management) - [WorkForce](https://thecea.org.uk/workforce) - [globalbridge](https://thecea.org.uk/connecting-talent-and-opportunity-with-gb) - [ELITE Consultancy Network](https://thecea.org.uk/elite-consultancynetwork) [ All posts ](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/all) August 3, 2025 # Industry welcomes parliamentary focus on rural crime and equipment theft   Louise Carney  ·  2 minute read *Support for the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 is gaining traction in Westminster, with the construction and agricultural sectors calling for swift implementation to protect vital equipment and machinery.*  Political attention on rural crime and machinery theft has intensified following a recent exchange in the House of Commons* *MP for Richmond and Northallerton, Rishi Sunak and Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson both reaffirmed support for the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023.  *Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond and Northallerton, said:*  *“I thank the Policing Minister for visiting Northallerton this year and hearing directly from my farming constituents about the impact of livestock and equipment crime on their lives and health. I am grateful to North Yorkshire Police for all their hard work, and for the recent funding uplift for the national rural crime unit, but does the Minister agree with me on the importance of implementing the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 and, more broadly, ensuring that rural areas get the attention they deserve?”*  *Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson responded:*  *“It was a pleasure to meet the right hon. Gentleman’s constituents; I think that was way back in February—it was a very cold day in North Yorkshire. I fully recognise what he says about the mental health and wellbeing impact of some of the crime challenges facing rural communities. That is why the neighbourhood policing guarantee is so important for areas like the one that he represents. As I have said a number of times in this House, we support the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act, and we plan to bring forward regulations shortly.”*  The Act, which received Royal Assent in July 2023 and formally commenced in January 2024, provides powers for the government to introduce regulations requiring immobilisers, forensic marking, and registration for quads and ATVs at the point of sale. Crucially, the legislation allows for these powers to be extended to cover other categories of equipment, including construction plant —something the industry is calling for as a priority.  The CEA (Construction Equipment Association), along with partners in construction, farming and insurance, supported the development of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act from the outset. The CESAR Scheme—owned by the CEA and operated by Datatag—is widely recognised as a highly effective deterrent to theft and is already embedded across the construction equipment sector. With its established infrastructure and strong adoption by manufacturers and the police, CESAR is expected to have an important role to play when the legislation is implemented. CESAR is widely adopted across the construction and agricultural machinery sectors and supported by most UK police forces.  The National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team (NCATT) has also benefited from additional government funding in recognition of the growing scale and impact of rural crime. Working closely with forces across the UK, NCATT plays a frontline role in the recovery of stolen equipment and the disruption of organised criminal networks.  *Viki Bell, Chief Executive of the CEA, said: * “It’s encouraging to see the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act firmly on the parliamentary agenda. Within the construction equipment sector, theft continues to cause serious disruption and financial loss. The CEA is actively working with government and policing teams to help shape the secondary legislation in a way that is pragmatic and achievable for both manufacturers and those tasked with enforcement. We want to ensure that what’s introduced is effective on the ground and takes full account of the systems and practices already widely in use across our industry.”  ***Note:***  The quotes from Rishi Sunak and Dame Diana Johnson are taken directly from **Hansard**, the official report of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Hansard provides a verbatim record of debates and statements made in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.    ![Rural_Crime](https://thecea.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Rural_Crime.jpg?width=3032&height=2274&name=Rural_Crime.jpg)     Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/industry-welcomes-parliamentary-focus-on-rural-crime-and-equipment-theft) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/industry-welcomes-parliamentary-focus-on-rural-crime-and-equipment-theft) [twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/industry-welcomes-parliamentary-focus-on-rural-crime-and-equipment-theft) ## Related posts [![](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/thumb-1.jpg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/the-cpa-publish-their-spring-survey) [WorkForce](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/tag/workforce) #### [The CPA publish their Spring Survey](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/the-cpa-publish-their-spring-survey) [![](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/CITB_StockImage.jpeg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/citb-funding-helps-launch-suicide-prevention-training-programme) #### [CITB funding helps launch suicide prevention training programme](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/citb-funding-helps-launch-suicide-prevention-training-programme) [![](https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20shows%20a%20construction%20site%20bustling%20with%20activity%20under%20a%20clear%20blue%20sky%20Workers%20in%20hard%20hats%20and%20safety%20vests%20are%20engaged%20in%20various%20tasks%20some%20operating%20machinery%20while%20others%20collaborate%20in%20small%20groups%20In%20the%20foreground%20a%20diverse%20group%20o-1.jpeg) ](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/citb-backs-new-suicide-prevention-training-programme-tailored-to-scottish-construction-industry) #### [CITB backs new suicide prevention training programme tailored to Scottish construction industry](https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/citb-backs-new-suicide-prevention-training-programme-tailored-to-scottish-construction-industry) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Louise Carney", "url" : "https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/author/louise-carney" }, "dateModified" : "2025-08-03T13:59:30.811Z", "datePublished" : "2025-08-03T13:59:30.000Z", "headline" : "Industry welcomes parliamentary focus on rural crime and equipment theft", "image" : [ "https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Rural_Crime.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://thecea.org.uk/industry-news/industry-welcomes-parliamentary-focus-on-rural-crime-and-equipment-theft", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://thecea.org.uk/hubfs/Logos/CEA_Master_Roundel+Title_TwoCol.png" }, "name" : "Construction Equipment Association" } } ```