Recently, (Wednesday 7th - Friday, November 9th), ten parties of poachers have been apprehended and dealt with by West Mercia Police.
The activity, which included the seizure of an air weapon, comes as a result of information from the community, specifically an organised group called Poacherwatch.
Two men from Aberdare, South Wales, have been found guilty of illegally shooting a deer, under the deer act 1991. The pair entered land in North Herefordshire in February 2018 and were sentenced at Hereford Magistrates Court on Monday (12 November 2018).
Brian Morgan, aged 41, from Aberdare, South Wales and Justin Hopkins, aged 38, from Aberdare, South Wales were ordered to pay £2,400 in fines, costs and compensation, both men had their fire arms certificates revoked and Hopkins was disqualified from driving for three months. A spokesperson for Poacherwatch said: “This gives a clear message that poaching will no longer be tolerated in the area we cover, we are working with the Police to continue to deter criminals and bring those that do commit crimes on rural land to justice through the Crown Prosecution Service and the Courts.”
To report rural crime anonymously call 0800 783 0137 or visit www.ruralcrimereportingline.uk