Poachers caught red handed in Weardale

Caught red handed.

We’ve had reports of poaching involving a specific car in Weardale recently.

Weardale Neighbourhood Policing Officers put together targeted patrols and, with the invaluable help of members of Rurali, were able to track the suspect vehicle near Tow Law when it popped onto the radar on Sunday night (November 2).

Calling on back up from officers from Crook and Spennymoor Neighbourhood Policing Teams and traffic officers, the car was tracked down, stopped and seized.

The driver and his two passengers, from the Haswell area, were found in possession of several dead rabbits and hares.

The men, aged 32, 28 and 29, were issued with a nine-force poaching Community Protection Warning (CPW) as part of Operation Hawkeye.

The force has been using CPWs since 2021 but in 2022 went a step further by joining up with eight other forces so they could act as one.

This means that cross-border poachers can no longer jump from one force area to another to avoid prosecution.

If caught in any of the nine-force areas again, they will be handed a Community Protection Notice (CPN) which helps officers deal with those suspected of committing rural and wildlife crime instead of relying on the more traditional poaching and trespass legislation which can be difficult to prove in a court of law.

It also gives police and the courts significantly greater powers to combat and prosecute serial cross-border criminals who breach their CPN conditions.

Force Rural lead, Inspector Andy Reeves, said: “Poaching is an abhorrent crime that brings harm to our rural communities and we will not tolerate it.

“These poachers now have their cards marked and we hope it sends a message to other opportunists that our rural communities are not an easy target thanks to our dedicated Rurali members.”

Officers continue to work hard to protect our rural communities under the banner of Rurali – the force’s initiative to work with residents in rural areas to tackle issues that specifically affect them.

For more information visit https://www.durham.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wsi/watch-schemes-initiatives/rw/rural-watch/