Five Dorset men arrested on suspicion of poaching
Wiltshire Police pursued a vehicle from the Salisbury Plain area
Last updated 15th Dec 2020
Officers from spotted a blue Jeep Cherokee on Ministry of Defence land at around midnight last night (Monday 14th into Tuesday 15th December).
The vehicle failed to stop for police and made off cross country with a lights off.
Police then saw the same vehicle coming into Salisbury on the A338 and used a stinger to get it to stop.
ARRESTS MADE
Five men, who were in the car, were arrested on suspicion of night poaching, and failing to stop for police.
They're aged 21, 30, 34, 42 and 49 and are all from Dorset.
The group all remain in custody at Melksham Police Station.
The vehicle was also seized for having no insurance, and four lurcher type dogs were found inside, along with night vision equipment.
Two of the dogs had injuries.
Inspector Dean Knight, from Wiltshire Police, said:
"The use of dogs to hunt animals is unacceptable and unlawful and officers will use all powers available to them to prevent this.
"Whenever possible we will liaise with our Rural Crime Team colleagues and specialist lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute offenders and utilise relevant legislation to seize dogs, vehicles and equipment used."