DAY 83: Digging ditches on land boundaries is the favoured crime prevention measure to warn off poachers in Oxfordshire

According to farmers and landowners across the Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire, the most successful deterrent to hare coursing and poaching activity has been digging ditches on the boundaries of the fields favoured by poachers and hare coursers.

Field and land in the Ewelme Wallingford area has suffered repeated, extensive damage to crops as a result of being driven over by 4x4 vehicles overnight. Landowners and gamekeepers suspect this is related to people poaching deer.

Landowners have prevented poaches from gaining further access by blocking off gaps in hedges where signs of access can be seen.

If you have had similar problems, the Thames Valley Police farm security survey can be found on the website.

The security assessment has been put together by our crime prevention and reduction advisors and it contains low cost, practical advice around securing land and property.

Download our farm security assessment

If you see any suspicious activity or suspect poaching or hare coursing is happening on your land, report it via the 24 hour non emergency number 101 as soon as you see anything.

If you have information or intelligence you would like to share with Thames Valley Police, no matter how big or small, you can also email our rural crime intelligence desk at FIBruralcrime@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.

DAYS 47 & 48: Reading University Gamekeepers assist with Operation Outpost in Wokingham

Last Sunday and Monday (15 and 16/12) saw local gamekeepers and farmers patrol with officers around rural Wokingham for a couple of evenings of combating rural crime. 

On the west side of the Wokingham local policing area, seven members of the public patrolled with the officers after attending a briefing at 7.30pm at the Finchampstead Memorial Hall. 

Although there wasn’t much to report on throughout the first evening (due to the pouring rain, most likely), a couple of suspicious vehicles were stopped and checked but all was in order. One man who was stopped, was actually pleased to see the crew out checking vehicles as his father had recently been a victim of theft from his van. 

By 1am, everyone gathered back at the hall for a debrief and overall everyone enjoyed the evening and a few even wanted to continue throughout the night!

Throughout the second evening, the crews received a report from a resident about a suspicious vehicle racing around the lanes at Carter’s Hill in Arborfield. 

A couple of weeks ago, a Thames Valley Alert was sent out to gamekeepers and landowners in the area which allowed the Reading University Gamekeepers to be involved in the operation and provide some important intelligence about what has been happening on their land. 

While patrolling their land, the Reading Uni gamekeepers reported a suspicious vehicle on their private land. It turned out the vehicle in question had been reported previously for poaching and had been causing a nuisance to local landowners. The crew attended and the vehicle was seized.

Other vehicles using all the byways were all stopped and checked. 

Rural specialist officer PCSO Suzie Carr said: “The feedback from the rural community is very positive and as some of them have joined us now for the third time, encouraging. 

“It is seen as a very positive step forward in the fight against rural crime. It is great that everyone is realising the local community have a part to play in assisting police to catch the people that commit these rural crimes.”