DAY 25: Wildlife crime operation in Aylesbury Vale targets hare coursers and poachers

 The team in Aylesbury had another packed day of action visiting 74 farms across the area completing security surveys and country watch sign ups. The PCSOs also delivered some tasty home-made cookies along with a ‘recipe for rural crime prevention’ to keep peckish farmers going on their harvest rounds.



Crime prevention cookies

Following a briefing at Waddesdon police station at 7pm, a team set off into two groups on an operation targeting hare coursing and poaching crimes. While one team covered Shabbington, Ickford, Worminghall, Oakley and Boarstall, the other group patrolled Chilton, Brill, Chearsley, Ashendon, Dorton, Ludgershall.



Searching for hare coursers



Although the teamed patrolled until 2am this morning (12/9), the wash-out weather clearly had a profound effect on the team’s findings with just two vehicles (all was in order with them) spotted all evening and no crime to report on!

The team preparing for a wildlife crime talk at Stowe school

Did you know TVP have wildlife officers?

There are currently four wildlife officers across the Thames Valley. These officers carry out their wildlife officer duties alongside their normal duties as a PC on a voluntary basis.

The wildlife officers act as specialists for the Force and will assist with and carry out investigations relating to wildlife crime and work with key partners such as the Wildlife Trust, Natural England and Partners Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) to prevent and reduce crimes such as:

·         Cruelty to and the persecution of wildlife species

·         The illegal trade in endangered species

·         Crimes involving native species which are endangered or of conservation concern

TVP are currently in the process of putting more police officers through the wildlife officer training course.