Rural churches a 'hotspot' for targeted and thoughtless criminality

Nearly 4,000 crimes were recorded at churches across the UK in 2025, amounting to more than 10 a day

Chris Brayford
clock • 6 min read
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said: "It is scandalous that our churches and places of worship have become a playground for criminals, with the Government asleep at the wheel. These figures are a damning indictment of a failed policing model that has left many rural communities feeling unprotected and unsafe. We need a return to proper community policing, with more officers back on the beat and visible in our towns and villages to protect sacred spaces."
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Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said: "It is scandalous that our churches and places of worship have become a playground for criminals, with the Government asleep at the wheel. These figures are a damning indictment of a failed policing model that has left many rural communities feeling unprotected and unsafe. We need a return to proper community policing, with more officers back on the beat and visible in our towns and villages to protect sacred spaces."

Churches in rural communities are becoming a hotspot for criminality after a new report revealed that UK places of worship face more than 10 crimes a day. The Countryside Alliance has obtained data...

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