Centro de Documentação da PJ
Analítico de Periódico
CD 368
The challenge of organised agricultural criminality [Recurso eletrónico] : the psychological and wider societal impacts / Kreseda Smith
European Law Enforcement Research Bulletin, Luxembourg, Special conference (Edition n. 7, 2026), p. 357-381
Edição especial da conferência n.º 7 da “CEPOL R&S Conference 2024/2025”, subordinada ao tema “Tackling the World of High-Risk Criminal Networks (HRCN)", que teve lugar em Ostia (Roma), nos dias 25 a 27 de março de 2025.
CRIME ORGANIZADO, CRIME NA AGRICULTURA, SAÚDE MENTAL, STRESS, ESTUDO DE CASOS, REINO UNIDO
Globally, farmers are increasingly threatened by organised criminal networks, leading to a rise in agricultural crime. This shift from traditional opportunistic offences to more organised crime is severely impacting the psychological well-being of farmers. It is also causing broader societal issues, including farmers’ departure from the sector, diminished trust in law enforcement and threats to food chain security. Farmers encounter various stressors – negative events that affect their well-being – and hinder successful business management. Existing research has identified stressors such as weather, finance, regulation, staffing and time pressures. However, the impact of organised agricultural criminality (OAC) on farmers' mental health and its broader implications have not been explored. This pioneering research investigates whether agricultural crime should be recognised as a stressor for farmers. It compares the impact of agricultural crime with other well-documented stressors on farm management in Great Britain. Additionally, this study examines the wider repercussions of OAC, considering the secondary and tertiary impacts of these events. While this research was conducted in Great Britain, its findings have international relevance, given the global reach of these criminal networks. The results indicate that OAC is a significant stressor for farmers, surpassed only by weather, finance and time pressures. Moreover, acts of criminality have extensive societal consequences often overlooked by those involved in crime prevention and law enforcement. The study argues that without serious international law enforcement consideration of OAC, the psychological and societal effects of these crimes could jeopardise global food security in unforeseen ways.
