Police step-up efforts tackling illegal poaching in Teignbridge
Officers say 'this illegal activity will not be tolerated'
Police in Teignbridge say they're stepping up their work to keep local wildlife safe - after reports of suspected poachers being spotted in rural parts of the district.
Police will be carrying out additional proactive patrols in response to community reports of suspected deer poaching.
PC George Miller from the local neighbourhood team said: “There have been sightings from farmers and the general public of individuals with hunting guns and coursing with dogs in areas where we know deers are located
"This illegal activity will not be tolerated.”
A number of innovative tactics will be used by officers when on patrol to identify individuals involved, including the use of thermal imagers and drones.
PC Miller added: “The specialist equipment that our officers are using will help massively with our efforts to identify and deter poachers, meaning we’ll be able to cover large ground in a short space of time.
"We’ll also be carrying out stop searches on those who we suspect to be involved in poaching, seizing firearms, animals, vehicles and hunting equipment.
“Not only does poaching cause harm to our deer populations through unethical dispatching, but it can lead to safety risks due to some poachers using unlicensed firearms and potentially contaminated venison if sold. That’s why it’s so important that this illegal activity is disrupted and deer protected.
“If you’re reading this and think you may have some information, or you think you might have seen something suspicious recently – please come forward and tell us. No matter how small you may think it is, what you share with us can be key in our investigation. Together we can keep our wildlife and community safe. Thank you.”
You're urged to call 999 if you suspect illegal poaching to be taking place at the time.
You can find out more about the laws on poaching on the Devon and Cornwall Police website.
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