Partnership in Poacher Watch

The poacher watch committee are pleased to be involved with an extension to the scheme in the badly affected North Lincolnshire area. Representatives were invited to a meeting of landowners, farmers and gamekeepers at Brocklesby to discuss the huge problems of poaching on an almost nightly basis in this part of the county. In addition to the wild deer, the local badger population is also being persecuted; local farmers often find carcasses of the mutilated victims.

At the meeting were representatives from the Lincolnshire and Humberside Police forces who are liaising together to tackle this barbaric crime, coordinated by the Lincolnshire Police Rural Intelligence Officer, PC Nigel Lound.

Another concern is the apparent link between poaching and other rural crime. Some poachers have been found to commit other rural crime, such as breaking into workshops stealing power tools as well as ATV's, Ifor Williams trailers etc. Night time poaching activities also offer people the opportunity to build up a good knowledge of the area, which can be useful if they turn to committing crimes such as burglary.

The poacher watch representatives advised the formation of a liaison committee of all those affected and advised farmers wishing to prepare their property against these criminals to do the following: -

Restrict access by Four Wheel Drive Vehicles by securing gates, digging shallow trenches with a JCB where access would otherwise be easily gained.
Maintain hedges and the fences on your property.
Join the "Poacher Watch" scheme and work with neighbours to organise night time patrols to work with the Police.
Buy a "Poacher Watch" Road sign - It is fact that prominent signs are the best form of deterrent against damage to your property.
Of great assistance to the Police will be new "state of the art" night vision equipment which has been pledged by the owners of the Riby Estate. The Estate`s Land Agent, Dermot Spurrier of the firm Jas Martin & Co of Lincoln said: "The Estate are delighted to offer the police this assistance, this is an excellent opportunity to eradicate these brutal crimes. We need everyone affected to work together and work with both Lincolnshire and Humberside Police to send a clear message to the poachers who carry out these crimes that Lincolnshire's landowners, farmers and keepers are prepared to assist in tackle these criminals."

For membership details and sign purchasers please contact us on Tel/Fax 01778 422649 or 07774 730363.