Immigration and crime increase in rural areas

The number of immigrants in rural England has more than trebled in the past three years, a Government report reveals today. The "sheer scale and speed of immigration" is putting a big strain on rural local authorities as they struggle to provide services and maintain community relations, warns the Commission for Rural Communities study.

From 2003 to 2006, rural areas across England saw a 209 per cent rise in migrant workers, as measured by National Insurance registrations, up from 21,000 to 65,000. The real figure is likely to be far higher, as some workers - particularly illegal immigrants - do not register, and dependent partners and children are not included. ...The sharpest increase was in Herefordshire, where the number of foreign NI registrations rose tenfold in three years, while eight rural districts across the country saw sixfold rises in foreign workers.

There has also been a 25% increase in robberies in rural communities too. Is it a coincidence? Either way Labour cannot be trusted to solve these problems.