Warning shots over poaching in East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Warning shots over poaching in East Lancashire
5:00pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News
WARNING letters have been sent to around 100 suspected poachers in the Ribble Valley.
Police have been working with game-keepers, residents and park wardens to identify those suspected of poaching and to warn them that they may face prosecution.
The scheme, named Operation Sika, includes cooperation from the Environment Agency, the British Association for Shooting and Con-servation, land owners and farmers, and has been running for four years.
Also working with police was Slaidburn, Newton and Bowland ward councillor Rosie Elms, who said all rural areas were affected by poaching at different times of the year, with pheasants being particular targets in the run up to Christmas.
She said: “It is a brilliant scheme. It is working very, very well and we are seeing results.”
Coun Elms said that deer, rabbits and salmon in the Hodder and Ribble Rivers were also frequent targets.
PC Carl Chew said police had seen a decrease in reported incidents over the last few years, which he put down to increased patrols.
He said: “The crops have been late this year due to the weather, but now they have been gathered we may start to see an increase in poaching. Also the rivers in our area are well stocked with salmon and sea trout and we have had reports of illegal netting.
“The ‘anti poaching’ letters highlight the action that will be taken against anyone caught poaching and the serious consequences they face by being part of this organised crime.
“We take a tough stance on rural crime and through working closely with our partners have created a database of intelligence against suspected rural crime offenders.” Anyone who has any information about rural crime should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Comments(6)
Troy McCLur
says...
6:49pm Thu 13 Sep 12
shytalk wrote:I like it!
A hare from the hill, and a bird from the mountain.
A beast from the wood, and a fish from the fountain.
All taken by stealth and me blessings am counting
With me young dog..
Gun, rod and line.
They all take their chances and i do take mine.
Caspar the ghost
says...
7:54pm Thu 13 Sep 12
Or is it too much work for the police??
Troy McCLur
says...
11:01pm Thu 13 Sep 12
shytalk
says...
10:43am Fri 14 Sep 12
Troy McCLur wrote:Just so long as places don't get paid a visit too many times...And lests face it half of the people in the Ribble valley would have police convictions for poaching if the truth was known..No sensible person is going to accidently run a pheasnt over and not put it in the boot of the car now are they?
Well I know most of the 'poachers' in the Ribble Valley and if the Police don't then they are not doing their job... the thing is though that - in this day and age - what difference would it make to anyone if a 'Poacher' took home a salmon or a rabbit?! Ok I don't agree with Deer being taken - but come on!! Aren't the Police's resources much better spent on other things than Hunters - sorry - 'poachers' trying to feed their family. What makes them a poacher anyway when the wild animals run or swim freely?! This 'clamp down' is a joke and a waste of PUBLIC funds.
Rimbus
says...
10:38pm Mon 17 Sep 12
shytalk wrote:The last time I hit one was whilst driving on the A59 just outside East Marton on the way to Skipton a few years ago. The bird was decapitated and it's head came over the top of the bonnet and the body of the bird went underneath the car bouncing off the road a couple of times and rattling along the chassis. Whilst I do consider myself sensible, contrary to the suggestion in shytalk's post, I didn't stop and put it in the boot as it would have resembled something like a spatchcock pheasant and no doubt had 'Dunlop' imprinted down the side of it.
Troy McCLur wrote:Just so long as places don't get paid a visit too many times...And lests face it half of the people in the Ribble valley would have police convictions for poaching if the truth was known..No sensible person is going to accidently run a pheasnt over and not put it in the boot of the car now are they?
Well I know most of the 'poachers' in the Ribble Valley and if the Police don't then they are not doing their job... the thing is though that - in this day and age - what difference would it make to anyone if a 'Poacher' took home a salmon or a rabbit?! Ok I don't agree with Deer being taken - but come on!! Aren't the Police's resources much better spent on other things than Hunters - sorry - 'poachers' trying to feed their family. What makes them a poacher anyway when the wild animals run or swim freely?! This 'clamp down' is a joke and a waste of PUBLIC funds.
shytalk says...
5:10pm Thu 13 Sep 12
A beast from the wood, and a fish from the fountain.
All taken by stealth and me blessings am counting
With me young dog..
Gun, rod and line.
They all take their chances and i do take mine.