Rural Times - Spring / Summer 19

RURAL TIMES ISSUE 12 • SPRING/SUMMER 2019

Protecting our rural communities HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT

CONTENTS EDITOR

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Phil Rogers Corporate Communications Hampshire Constabulary

TEAM

RURAL CRIME PARTNERSHIP

Korine Bishop Strategic Rural Policing

HUGH’S VIEWS

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6 FAKE PET ADVERTS

Inspector Hampshire Constabulary

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5 Andy Williams Country Watch Sergeant

BALED WASTE CRIME

Hampshire Constabulary

10 Justin Pringle Temporary Sergeant Isle of Wight Neighbourhoods Hampshire Constabulary

WEBSITE Hampshire Alert www.hampshirecountrywatch.co.uk

FRONT COVER © 2019 iStock

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THE BOBBY SCHEME

LYNDHURST EQUINE EVENT

RURAL ROUND-UP

WELCOME TO THE LATEST ISSUE OF RURAL TIMES This edition of Rural Times gives you an excellent introduction to the individuals who form the Rural Crime Partnership Board.

Assistant Chief Constable, Scott Chilton Hampshire Constabulary, Rural Policing Lead

The board meets quarterly and hosts a number of individuals from across the county. Our aim is to work in partnership to shape a strategic focus to make our rural spaces a hostile environment for criminals to work in. I hope you enjoy reading about the work that we do to keep our rural communities safer.

In force, I have a team of analysts who have been working hard with Country Watch to analyse and understand Hampshire’s rural data.

The analysis focuses on rural crime types and crime in rural locations.

The detail of this work will assist us in identifying the current threat and police response to rural crime in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

It will allow us to identify patterns and vulnerable locations, and enable us to respond intelligently and target offenders in our hotspot areas.

District Commanders and Country Watch officers will be working closely together to prepare local plans in our rural districts.

Additionally, sharing this data with our neighbouring forces and rural partners will support us in planning operational activity to tackle crime across our borders.

In January, the rural partnership board welcomed PC Andy Sparshott. Andy gave an excellent presentation on the work the force has been doing to use drones as operational equipment. I am pleased to announce that we have been able to secure the funds to purchase a drone for Country Watch to use.

Drones offer us a great opportunity to help us police rural and hardto-reach locations, gather better evidence and assist with operational planning. Country Watch officers have now been trained and will be operational in the next couple of months. I look forward to seeing the results from this work.

I hope you are all looking forward to the activities and events that come with the summer months. I will be attending the New Forest and Hampshire County Show in July. As always, I look forward to meeting some of you there.

SAFER RURAL COMMUNITIES Investing in preventing crime in rural communities.

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Property marking machine that will ensure that more plant items can benefit from being marked in an effort to prevent future crime.

Do please make use of this deterrent.

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Volunteers add huge value for us all. In support of their efforts, high-visibility clothing and protectors will be funded for volunteer Mounted Rural Patrol riders and their horses.

This will keep them safe during patrols and make them easily recognisable to police, partner agencies and the public.

Michael Lane Police and Crime Commissioner

I am pleased to report that I have approved the funding for a number of rural crime prevention initiatives to support our rural communities: •

The purchase of thermal imaging machines that will help officers to better identify offenders at night.

These initiatives have all been recognised as best practice in rural crime prevention and I am delighted to support their introduction to benefit our local officers and our rural communities.

In this issue, don’t miss the feedback received about the rural crime partnership and involvement from partners. Rural crime is a complex issue that cannot be tackled by one agency alone, and effective partnerships are crucial to ensure we have an impact on the issues that concern us all.

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HUGH’S VIEWS Our Country Watch team has been consistently busy.

One excellent member was notably successful due to his professionalism and awareness.

Hugh Oliver-Bellasis is chair of the Strategic Independent Advisory Group (SIAG) and acts as a critical friend to the force.

PC Vince Lane went to recover some stolen property and was particularly alert, investigated further and uncovered new car parts from top of the range cars packaged ready to be exported. These were all cars that had been stolen and broken up. The value was high. Well done –­­ that is the quality of our rural team.

I know I have asked before but they need our help by reporting all we see. WhatsApp groups have been set up with our Country Watch team. If you are not on one, why not start one or join in someone else’s group?

It is a really effective way to exchange information, pictures and videos.

I notice there has been a rise in fly-tipping from builders’ waste (rubble and bricks), to house clearance (cupboards and units), to plumbers’ waste (pipes and baths), to garden waste (the obligatory Leylandii).

Although fly-tipping is a local authority responsibility, one day one of us may be lucky and see someone actually in the act of tipping – that is where the police can help.

I long to catch them, because they cause such a serious nuisance quite apart from making the rural area looking really shoddy: I suspect visitors think that is how farmers behave! I cannot believe someone does not see it occurring? I feel certain it would be possible to place cameras, but they have to be inserted with a notice you are being photographed – the world has gone mad.

With the price of diesel increasing it is worth checking the security of your red diesel supplies. It’s also worth ensuring bagged nitrogen fertiliser is protected, as the threat is ever present.

The overall security of key equipment is vital at this time of year. Review your protection – the criminals are very clever and leave little to chance. Make sure your teams have your Country Watch officers’ mobile numbers (see page 16) and your local neighbourhood officers’ numbers. Investigate WhatsApp. Have a good harvest.

© 2019 iStock

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BOBBY SCHEME OFFERS HOME SAFETY ADVICE The Bobby Scheme is a free, practical service providing reassurance and a sense of security to vulnerable people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight within their own homes.

The scheme aims to bring peace of mind and reduce the fear of crime, particularly for elderly people and victims of burglary and domestic abuse.

service is completely free. The Blue Lamp Trust can supply and fit police-approved key safes for a small donation.

It is the charitable arm of the Blue Lamp Trust and is supported by Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Blue Lamp Trust also gives talks at community groups to offer advice about home crime and fire prevention.

How does it work?

Since the Bobby Scheme started in 1998, more than 17,500 homes have been visited. In 2018, the scheme helped over 1,600 vulnerable people, 175 burglary victims and 355 victims of domestic abuse.

A full crime prevention and fire safety survey is carried out by one of the scheme’s trained, policevetted fitters. They will provide both general and specific crime and fire prevention advice to improve home safety.

When appropriate, they will fit such items as locks, spy-holes, door chains and smoke alarms. This

For more information please visit: www.bluelamptrust.org.uk or contact the Bobby Scheme directly by calling 0300 777 0157 or emailing bobby@bluelamptrust.org.uk

"Thank you so much for your good advice on my home security. It was much appreciated.

Small changes have made a big difference to me feeling a little more safe in my home."

Mrs S, Totton

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MEET THE RURAL CRIME PARTNERSHIP You may have read about the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Rural Crime Partnership in previous editions. We thought we would ask our partners to tell us a little about their roles and their thoughts on the partnership. We hope you enjoy reading about the people and organisations that operate together to tackle crime in the rural areas where you work or live.

As I’m sure some of you know, I helped set up the rural crime partnership with Assistant Chief Constable Laura Nicholson quite a long while ago – 2011!

Hugh Oliver-Bellasis Chair of the Strategic Independent Advisory Group (SIAG)

Originally there were two groups: the rural police board and a rural crime board. The idea was to connect with rural communities and make a living connection by having regular meetings and a two-way flow of information.

The two groups evolved into one and the name changed to rural crime partnership. I think it has been successful – I would say this, would I not?! – given that the constabulary now has a dedicated Country Watch team, even if resources are slender. It is a base from which to build, as resources become available.

BUT more importantly and absolutely vital – the police and rural can discuss difficult matters, lack of cover, continued criminality, anger and frustration with no rancour or sensitivity, and that is incredibly valuable. This collaborative attitude will bear even greater fruit as matters develop.

Country Watch was set up as a pilot in the western area in 2008 by Lou Hubble following complaints from gamekeepers about the poor response from police.

There was a lot of engagement with partners and rural community members, which resulted in a force-wide review.

Several recommendations were identified to improve service to rural communities Strategic Rural Inspector and as a result County Watch was rolled Hampshire Constabulary out in 2010. I took over the strategic rural role in 2017 and have continued to grow the team to include police staff investigators and numerous volunteers.

Korine Bishop

Country Watch has gone from strength to strength and is now recognised nationally as a good model which is being replicated in other forces.

The team works because of the relationships we have formed with partners and local communities, who are just as dedicated to dealing with rural issues within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

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Sandra Nichols National Farmers’ Union County Adviser Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

As a representative of our farming members, I have found our involvement in the rural crime partnership to be invaluable. It not only provides an opportunity to hear about the work of Hampshire Constabulary, their operations and their challenges, but it is also a platform for us to share the particular concerns that our members have regarding the aspects of rural crime they are experiencing.

Our local offices across the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight feed in their issues, which we are able to raise at the meetings. What is particularly valuable is having such a good representation from across the rural stakeholder spectrum, including the Crown Prosecution Service.

I first got involved in the rural crime partnership when Lou Hubble launched Country Watch in its current form.

Beaulieu hosted the first public meeting, I think in 2009, and I have been a supporter of this initiative ever since.

I was pleased to be able to present on rural crime at the initial partnership launch, which was held at the Lyndhurst Peter Stagg Head Gamekeeper Park Hotel in 2011. I was invited to attend Beaulieu Estate a meeting of the Hampshire and Isle of White partnership about six years ago as an advisor on poaching problems and other rural crime issues which are experienced on a large rural estate.

I see my role in this group as being primarily able to impart my knowledge and experience in nearly 40 years as a professional gamekeeper, with many of those years being spent in estate management, to enable the partnership to make informed decisions when required to do so.

My involvement in being part of a privileged few who are able to work with Hampshire Constabulary in the rural crime partnership has given me a great deal of personal satisfaction in the knowledge that I have been able to give something back that could make a difference.

The dedication shown by the senior officers and other ranks in their support of rural issues, with the many calls that they have on the limited resources at their disposal, is commendable.

Barry Jordan-Davis Gypsy Liaison Officer, Gypsy and Traveller Service

The Hampshire County Council (HCC) Gypsy and Traveller Service has a countywide responsibility and is the first point of reference for any enquiries relating to gypsy and traveller matters. I have worked for HCC since 2005 as Gypsy Liaison Officer in the Gypsy and Traveller Service, a natural progression from my previous role at Wiltshire County Council as the site manager responsible for three permanent residential sites with 50 families and a 12-pitch transit site.

My role in Hampshire includes responsibility for 20 families on one permanent residential site in the north of the county, planning matters relating to Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments, including planning applications, unauthorised encampments and horse fly-grazing, to name but a few.

In addition to offering advice, training and presentations on the gypsy and traveller lifestyle, traditions and culture, I also work with – and offer expertise and advice to – local authorities, district, town and parish councils and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Rural Crime Partnership.

Building up good relationships is an especially rewarding part of my role, and I really enjoy the challenges and variety of work that my role offers on a day-to-day basis.

I have been involved in the rural crime partnership since early 2016 and see my role as an integral link and point of contact between group partners.

Membership of the group ensures that I receive feedback and suggestions from professionals in the rural sectors, while enabling me to keep them informed on the Tony Hill current working practices and performance Head of Firearms & Explosives Licensing of the Firearms Licensing Department. My Hampshire Constabulary involvement in the partnership has given me a better understanding of a wide range of rural issues, and I have tapped into a most useful network of contacts.

The partnership brings together a broad range of skills and areas of knowledge and expertise, giving greater understanding that enables a more effective and joined-up response to the issues faced by our rural communities.

The fact that membership of the group remains strong demonstrates the need for the forum, which provides a solid and varied foundation for working partnerships in the rural environments.

While the majority of our certificate holders are leisure shooters, we are acutely aware of the need to provide a swift and supportive service to our rural customers, who rely on their guns for their livelihood.

Dorothy Ireland Chairman of the Wessex Branch of the British Deer Society

The British Deer Society (BDS) was founded in 1963 to protect the interests of the six species of wild deer found in the UK. Our aim is to ensure a healthy deer population in balance with other flora and fauna in the countryside. The Wessex branch covers Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset, south Wiltshire, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands. We have a broad church of membership, including conservationists, landowners, deer managers, scientists, deer watchers, artists and photographers.

We run training courses for deer management, Deer Stalking Certificate (DSC) level 1 and 2, humane animal dispatch (HAD) and much more. We provide deer-related help and guidance to all, including teachers, students, lecturers, farmers, estate managers and gardeners. We advise through our technical experts, government and public bodies to ensure deer welfare is considered in relevant legislation. Our research support projects including academic studies, surveys and deer counts, all to help us understand the factors influencing the changes in our deer population. We have been involved in the rural crime partnership since its inception and play an important role regarding the welfare of deer. The partnership’s main strength is that all organisations work together to tackle rural crime.

Belonging to PAW (Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime), we were involved in the push for HAD right from the start in 2007.

I am still not sure whether enough of the public know about this – especially when they are involved in an accident with a deer. If this happens, they should call 101 or 999 and be directed to the HAD team. All the call-out team are qualified to put down the deer, having been on the joint course run by BDS, the Deer Initiative and the police.

I have been involved with deer for over 30 years and was secretary for the Wessex branch for a number of years before becoming the chairman 19 years ago. I am also trustee/director of the BDS nationally, being made a fellow in 2000.

My passion is to see deer as an animal to be respected – not poached or treated unfairly by developers taking their habitat away. Working together with Country Watch is important to share information on deer-related incidents, especially when so many backdoor dealings are being done to sell carcasses illegally. My view is that, after a successful prosecution, poachers should be given a very hefty fine and have their guns taken away.

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© 2019 iStock

COUNTY SHOWS Property marking at Royal Isle of Wight County Show The Police and Crime Commissioner and Country Watch invited local residents to have their property marked at the Royal Isle of Wight County Show on 30 June to help prevent crime.

As a result of support and funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner and the National Farmers' Union, local residents were able to secure their valuable items by having them marked by a new Dot Peen property marking machine at the show. Residents were invited to take along small items, such as garden tools, power tools, mobile phones and tablets and equestrian tack.

For larger items such as plant machinery, tractors and trailers and golf clubs, the County Watch team were on hand to discuss property marking at rural

locations, including farms and equine centres that could be targeted by thieves.

Inspector Korine Bishop, the strategic lead for rural policing, said: “With this new marking equipment, the County Watch team will be able to systematically visit repeat victims of burglary and theft in rural areas across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to ensure property is marked in an effort to prevent future crime.

Come and see us at other summer shows

“By marking items, the police will be able to identify lost and stolen property more quickly and return it the rightful owners. It also helps to deter would-be thieves as the valuables, once marked, become harder to sell on and too hot to handle.”

Please come and see us at:

Michael Lane, Police and Crime Commissioner, commented: “I am delighted to support the purchase of this new equipment. This crime prevention initiative will enhance the policing support in our rural communities, helping to keep us all safer.”

Country Watch officers will also be attending a number of other shows over the summer months.

Our team will be keen to have a chat with you about property marking and any rural and wildlife crime issues.

New Forest and Hampshire County Show 30, 31 July and 1 August.

Hampshire Country Sports Show East Meon (formerly held in Alresford) 1 September.

Alresford Show 7 September.

Romsey Show 14 September.

SPECIAL CONSTABULARY AWARD Congratulations go out to our Country Watch Specials who have been chosen as the 2018 Special Constabulary Team of the Year in the Citizens in Policing (CIP) award.

Since 2015, they have provided more than 8,000 police hours and 1,000 estate visits, dealt with 200 high-priority calls and have been proactive in reducing animal deaths on New Forest roads.

They are a cohesive and dedicated team that makes an outstanding contribution to our rural communities. The team received their well-deserved award at a ceremony in February at Netley. Our Specials also came runners up in the South East Regional CIP awards.

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BALED WASTE CRIME ON THE RISE Hundreds of commercial properties “sitting targets” for waste criminals.

The Environment Agency is urging property and landowners to be extra vigilant after investigations reveal that ‘baled waste crime’ is on the increase.

The waste is often plastic, builders, commercial or household rubbish that cannot be recycled and which has no monetary value. The waste is compressed into a block or ‘bale’ and concealed by plastic strapping. There have been incidents of large scale dumping of baled waste on privately owned sites across Hampshire in the last two years.

Nigel Oliver, an Environmental Crime Officer in the Environment Agency in Hampshire, said: “These criminal offences have not been random or opportunistic dumping of waste, but rather systematic and organised crime where secure sites have been targeted using what appears to be legal and above board measures through the property and land leasing process.

properties where the criminals provide false details to secure warehouse space, barns or open land on industrial estates, farms or private property – with articulated trailers on public roads or car parks being targeted as well.

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Inspector Korine Bishop, strategic rural policing lead for Hampshire Constabulary, said: “Hampshire Constabulary fully supports this campaign. Baled waste is becoming an increasing problem with landowners unknowingly agreeing to allow it to be deposited on their land. We urge all farmers and rural businesses to know what their land is being used for, especially around requests to store waste. Please report any suspicious activity to the Environment Agency. If you witness large scale fly-tipping in action please consider calling 999 but do not approach the people involved.”

Landlords should check before signing a contract that the contract complies with regulations. You can view whether a potential tenant holds the correct permit to carry out waste operations at https://www.gov.uk/ guidance/access-the-public-registerfor-environmental-information.

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The offer of payment to temporarily store waste is a scam – the waste will likely never be collected.

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Be vigilant and report any unusual behaviour. If you are suspicious of prospective tenants please contact us for more information and advice.

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If you are approached to store baled waste, even on a short term basis, refuse the material and call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 or the charity Crimestoppers

Commercial property agents, trade associations and local authorities across the region have been given the following advice for landlords and landowners: •

“Most of the sites have been cleared at great expense to the landowners, with one site alone costing in excess of £200,000 in clean-up costs.

“The Environment Agency wants property and land owners to be vigilant and to better protect themselves from these unscrupulous individuals. We’re also asking that businesses, organisations and individuals manage their waste responsibly to prevent it from getting into criminal hands in the first place.”

The deposit sites include leased and rental

land or property without the relevant permissions and you could be liable to prosecution and the cost of removing the waste.

Carry out rigorous checks on prospective new tenants. Land and property owners have a responsibility to ensure anyone leasing their land/ premises complies with regulations, so it is essential that you establish how and for what purpose they are going to use the land/property.

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Check any empty land and property regularly and make sure it is secure.

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It is illegal to store waste on your land without the required permits. You may be committing an offence by allowing waste to be stored on your

anonymously on 0800 555 111.

There are hundreds of commercial properties across the south east thought to be empty, all of which are potential targets for waste criminals.

The Environment Agency’s specialist crime unit uses intelligence to track and prosecute organised crime gangs involved in illegal waste activity and to ensure any necessary action is taken against them. The agency is working closely with the police in their investigation into these offences.

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© 2019 iStock

HORSE RIDERS AND ROAD USERS GIVEN SAFETY TIPS AT LYNDHURST EQUINE EVENT Did you know that between November 2010 and March 2019, 315 horses and 43 riders were reportedly killed in incidents on UK roads?

According to the British Horse Society (BHS), 73 per cent of these incidents occurred because cars passed too closely to horses, and 31 per cent of incidents came as a result of vehicles passing too quickly.

On 4 April, Country Watch Inspector Korine Bishop joined BHS Director of Safety Alan Hiscox and Duncan Dollimore from Cycling UK, to give road safety tips and security advice to horse riders and other road users at Lyndhurst Community Centre.

In an event organised by Police Staff Investigator Melody Manning from Country Watch and Hannah Marsh from the BHS, Mr Hiscox gave attendees an overview of the BHS Dead? Or Dead Slow? campaign. This aims to educate drivers on what to do when they encounter horses on the road, with an objective of ensuring the safety of motorists, horses and their riders.

This was followed by an overview from Mr Dollimore of Cycling UK’s Be Nice, Say Hi guidance for cyclists and horses.

This is a joint initiative with the BHS to promote a consideration and courtesy awareness message to cyclists and horse riders to pass safely.

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The aim of the message is that if all road users are considerate and mindful of one another, the number of incidents between horses, cyclists and vehicles could be reduced.

Inspector Bishop gave a presentation promoting the work of the constabulary’s Country Watch team, whilst offering reassurance to our rural communities and key rural crime prevention messages, which were well received by attendees.

The following groups/areas were also represented at the event via trade/ information stands: •• Crime prevention •• Hampshire Horsewatch (providing tack marking) •• Forestry Commission •• New Forest National Park Authority •• Verderers •• South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB) •• New Forest Equestrian Association •• RAF Safety Centre •• Hampshire Constabulary Mounted Rural Patrol Country Watch and the BHS both expressed concerns over the underreporting of incidents – with only a third of rural crime reported to police, and only one in 10 horse-related incidents being reported to the BHS.

We would encourage anyone who has been affected by rural crime to report incidents, however minor they may be, to the Country Watch team on 101.

A second event took place in Eversley on 5 June.

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THEFT OF PEREGRINE FALCON EGGS It is the fighter jet of the animal kingdom, reaching speeds of more than 240mph when stooping in flight.

But the peregrine falcon is at risk of becoming an illegal commodity as the UK continues to see reports of eggs being stolen from nests.

In some cases it is thought eggs are taken by collectors aiming to build on their collection of wild bird eggs, while others are believed to be introduced to the captive bred market due to their impressive and sought-after capabilities.

In May 2018, a nest being monitored by Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) was believed to have been disturbed by such human interference.

A pair of peregrine falcons were successfully incubating a clutch of three eggs, but two weeks later the adults had abandoned the nest and eggs were missing. This is highly unusual for peregrines, who are fiercely protective of their nests, and indicated the nest had been subject to disturbance.

An investigation was conducted with assistance from the landowners and HOS. House-to-house enquiries were conducted and reports of suspicious vehicles seen at the site were investigated, but no suspects were identified.

Offenders who steal eggs, or capture wild birds, can be liable to prosecution and punishment under the following offences:

•• Take a Schedule 1 wild bird – punishable by six months in prison and an unlimited fine

birds at close range and attach rings to their legs to enable their future progress to be monitored.

•• Take eggs of a Schedule 1 wild bird – punishable by six months in prison and an unlimited fine

NestWatch

•• Disturb the nesting site of a Schedule 1 bird – punishable by six months in prison and a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale It is not all doom and gloom, however.

While numbers of the bird are declining in Scotland, England is still seeing an increase, with an estimated population across the UK of approximately 1,900 pairs.

Keith Betton, chairman of HOS, said: “The peregrine is still regarded as being of conservation concern in both a European and a UK context, but after having suffered at the hands of man for many years, this top predator is now benefiting from our protection.

“At least 25 pairs nested in Hampshire in 2018, and we have about 18 peregrine nests this year.”

In line with the need to continue the protection and conservation of peregrine falcons, NestWatch is being set up by Hampshire Constabulary’s Country Watch team.

NestWatch will involve setting up communication links with residents of areas where a peregrine nest is nearby, and where people are keen to report anything suspicious to police. This could include the birds appearing disturbed or distressed, or people acting suspiciously or attempting to gain entry to areas where nests could be accessed.

If you live near a peregrine nest and are keen to assist in the protection of these impressive birds and want to learn more about the project, please email countrywatch@hampshire.pnn.police.uk and refer to NestWatch.

The Hampshire Ornithological Society monitors all peregrine nest sites in the county, liaising with landowners to ensure that accidental disturbance is avoided. To maximise the birds' chances of success, they have installed nest boxes at a number of sites.

We are pleased to work closely with HOS to ensure that the birds' wellbeing is put first, particularly as they are recovering from catastrophic declines that occurred from 1940 to 1980. Members of HOS include licensed volunteers who can study the

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© 2019 iStock

PAWS FOR THOUGHT: FAKE PET ADVERTS LEAD TO OVER £3 MILLION IN LOSSES Action Fraud is warning the public that fraudsters are posting advertisements for non-existent animals and pet accessories online.

Between March 2012 and April 2018, 5,066 reports of this type of fraud were made to Action Fraud. In addition, victims reported losing £3,129,273 during this time – an average of £40,640 per month.

How is this happening?

Fraudsters are advertising pets and pet accessories on online marketplaces at a lower than expected price in an attempt to attract victims. The fraudsters are then demanding full payment or a deposit for the animal via bank transfer or electronic wire.

To prevent requests to visit the animal, fraudsters will tell victims that it is located in a remote or faraway location, which stops them from travelling to see it.

In some cases, the fraudsters are telling victims that they need to pay further fees for animal travel insurance, documentation or special travel cages.

Victims are promised that some or all of these extra fees will be refunded when

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they receive the animal, however once these funds have been transferred the fraudster will stop all communication, leaving victims out of pocket and with no pet.

•• Avoid paying for goods and services by bank transfer as this offers you little protection if you become a victim of fraud. Instead, use a credit card or payment services such as PayPal.

The report suggests that fraudsters are targeting victims who wish to buy popular breeds. The highest number of reports related to pugs – 224 reports were made between January 2012 and May 2018, with victims losing a combined total of £76,451.

•• Ask for photographs or videos of the animal; a responsible seller will understand why the buyer wants photographs and more information before making a purchase.

Fraudsters are also offering pet-related products for sale which don’t exist or are not as described. Equine accessories accounted for 92 per cent of monetary losses. Between January 2012 and May 2018, 368 reports were made which concerned a horse box or trailer. The total reported loss was £1,145,369, with an average loss of £3,112 per victim.

Action Fraud has provided some useful tips: •• If you’re purchasing goods and services from a company or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first, or ask friends and family for advice before completing a purchase. Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

•• Use the online marketplace’s ‘report’ function if you come across suspicious adverts or sellers.

•• Sellers offering to meet you ‘halfway’ seems generous but you should only buy the puppy directly from the place where he/she was born and raised.

•• When buying a puppy, you must insist on seeing the puppy interacting with its mother and littermates in the location where they were bred and reared. Make sure you visit the puppy more than once too.

•• If you think you have fallen victim to this type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

RURAL ROUND-UP THEFT OF CHICKEN EGGS AND A PIGLET

MAN FOUND GUILTY OF FISHING WITHOUT A LICENCE

Chicken eggs and an egg washer were stolen in March during a burglary at a farm in Kings Somborne, while a piglet was stolen from another farm in the village on the same day.

OP WOLF ROAD STOPS Country Watch officers joined forces with Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council stopping vehicles on the A337 near Lyndhurst as part of Op Wolf, looking for illegal waste and scrap metal carriers. Around 40 vehicles were stopped during the short operation on 16 April, resulting in several vehicle prohibitions and fixed penalty tickets given for no MOT. A vehicle was also dealt with for not having a waste carrier licence.

In addition, Op Wolf road stops took place in Plaitford on 30

A man has been found guilty of fishing without a licence and theft of fish after a joint investigation between Country Watch and the Environment Agency. He has been fined and ordered to pay court costs.

April with HM Revenue and Customs and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). One vehicle was found using red diesel, a driver was found in possession of cannabis, and six vehicles were subject to DVSA prohibition.

During further Op Wolf activities on the A338 between Ringwood and Fordingbridge on 29 May, 141 vehicles were stopped. Four prohibition notices, four waste carrier notices and five fixed penalty notices were issued.

Three vehicles were seized for not having insurance.

DEAD BADGER FOUND IN CHURCH CROOKHAM We appealed for information after a dead badger cub was located in Calthorpe Park, Church Crookham, with apparent blunt force trauma injuries and its teeth knocked out on 15 April. Call 101 with any information.

LIVESTOCK WORRYING ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT Our Isle of Wight Country Watch team has been reminding dog owners of their responsibility to keep their pets under close control when walking them in the countryside, or in fields containing livestock and wild animals.

Similarly, two sheep died of shock and a third was injured in a field near the castle at the beginning of April.

It is believed that a dog was also responsible for the tragedy.

livestock worrying incident, and the animal can be shot by a farmer in order to end an attack.

Dog owners often voice surprise when their dog chases livestock, but this is an innate part of the animal’s behaviour and they will instinctively chase and injure other animals given the chance.

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This follows two incidents reported this year of sheep being killed in a popular dog-walking spot near Carisbrooke Castle on the Island.

Keep your dog on a lead when in a field with livestock. If there is no livestock in the field, keep the dog in sight at all times.

• A sheep owner told us that one of his flock had been mauled by a dog, while a further 10 sheep died of shock as a result of the sheep worrying incident at the end of January.

The Country Watch team have been advising owners that while it’s not illegal to have a dog off a lead near livestock, it is illegal to not have them under close control.

Be aware of what your dog is doing, and be confident it will return to you promptly on command. If you cannot be confident of this, the dog should not be off the lead.

This caused a lot of distress to the victim, on top of the financial loss he suffered.

The owner, or the person in control of the dog, can also face prosecution under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 if their dog is involved in a

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Ensure the dog does not stray off the path or area where you have right of access.

Our advice to dog owners is:

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RURAL ROUND-UP MORE THAN 60 LAMBS STOLEN FROM HAMPSHIRE FIELD On 28 March this year, we received the shocking report from a local farmer that 66 of his lambs had been stolen from his property in Hursley.

for information relating to the lambs’ whereabouts, and for anyone with information about the crime to come forward.

The three-week-old Welsh Mule and Texel Suffolk cross lambs were taken in the early hours of the morning, and we believe that the person, or people, responsible would have had to have used a vehicle to transport the lambs from the field. Sadly two lambs were found dead as a result of the theft.

PC Rogerson said: “This theft will come at a huge financial cost to the farmer, but this incident is all the more distressing for the victim as he has lambed these animals himself and raised the young ones from birth. It is very rare for something like this to happen in Hampshire, and we are asking our rural communities to spread the word so we can find these animals and ensure their safety. Do you know someone who may have come into the possession of these animals, or a farm that has had a sudden and unexpected influx of lambs?

PC Steve Rogerson from the Country Watch team visited the farmer and spoke with the National Farmers’ Union, who were understandably appalled by the incident. We are now appealing

I would urge anybody who can help our investigation to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Country Watch team on 101, quoting 44190107152.

VEHICLES SEIZED In June, Country Watch officers accompanied Winchester City Council officials on a visit to Carousel Park in Micheldever on council business.

We recovered several vehicles that had been reported as stolen: 10 caravans, one motor home, two Transit vans and two towable water bowsers.

OFFICERS TACKLING RURAL CRIME IN HART EXECUTE TWO WARRANTS Officers in Hart investigating nondwelling burglaries executed two warrants in January. The warrants were carried out in Little Vigo and Stillwell Close, Yateley. A number of items, which are believed to be stolen, were seized and investigations are continuing.

Officers from the Hart north neighbourhood team led the action, which is part of our ongoing Operation Rebate work, tackling rural crime.

This action follows two non-dwelling burglaries in Minley Road, Fleet, and Cobbetts Lane, Blackwater, on 15 January, during which several outbuildings and containers were targeted.

A short time later officers recovered a wood-chipper which had been stolen during these burglaries.

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Separately, a man was arrested in January following the discovery of stolen property worth thousands of pounds in Farnham Road, Odiham. It included a plant machinery vehicle worth an estimated £22,000.

A 27-year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. He was released from custody but remains under investigation while enquiries continue.

In 2019 alone we have seen approximately £675,000 worth of stolen plant recovered, including a tractor worth £150,000. This compares significantly to roughly £100,000 worth recovered in 2018, and approximately £70,000 worth recovered the previous

year. This is the result of good basic policing and credit must go in particular to PC Vince Lane, whose eye for a stolen item is excellent.

© 2019 iStock

MAN JAILED AFTER BEATING COCKEREL TO DEATH WITH METAL KEBAB SKEWER – AND VIDEOING IT A Wickham man was jailed after a video surfaced of him viciously beating a cockerel to death with a metal kebab skewer.

In August 2018, he was found guilty in his absence of one offence of causing unnecessary suffering to the bird but he failed to attend court so a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Police officers investigating an unrelated matter in Hampshire discovered a video of the man on a mobile phone. The footage

HARE COURSING Efforts by the Country Watch team to tackle hare coursing in the county have resulted in three men being prosecuted and sentenced through the courts.

Police received reports of two men hare coursing in a field on Micheldever Road, Whitchurch, on Wednesday 17 October 2018.

Both men were detained by police. The first man, who had a pair of binoculars in his

showed the man, wearing a blue vest, chasing a cockerel around a fenced area with a metal pole before holding the bird upside down and striking its head.

RSPCA Chief Inspector Will Mitchell described the violent footage as “absolutely shocking to watch”.

He added: “His violent behaviour and the savage cruelty he shows towards this bird is difficult to comprehend.”

The man was jailed for 18 weeks and was disqualified from keeping any animal for five years. He also had to pay £750 and

possession, claimed to be out birdwatching, while the second man hid under a bush to avoid capture. This man then told police he had simply been out walking his two dogs, who were accompanying him when police found him.

The dogs were seized by police, and at a court hearing on 4 April both men pleaded guilty to the offence of daytime trespass in pursuit of game-poaching, contrary to Section 30 of the Game Act 1831.

The fines given were £150 to one man and £250 to the other, as well as £100 each to the Crown Prosecution Service and £30 each to fund victim services. Both dogs were also forfeited.

victim surcharge of £115.

Sergeant Andy Williams, from the Country Watch team, said: “We are pleased that the man has finally been punished for what really was a shocking and cowardly act against the animal.

“We work closely with our partners from the RSPCA on a variety of rural and animal welfare matters. Offences such as this have no place in modern society. When information is received about such offences, the Country Watch team is only too pleased to assist in investigating them and bringing offenders to justice.”

In a separate incident, on 30 December 2018, it was reported that there was a man hare coursing on fields off Laverstoke Lane, near Micheldever. This man was seen trespassing on a private estate before releasing his dog to chase a hare. Upon police attendance, the man was located in the middle of the field and his dog was seized.

At a court hearing on 16 April, the man pleaded guilty to the offence of daytime trespass in pursuit of game poaching, contrary to Section 30 of the Game Act 1831. The man was given a conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay £85 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a surcharge to fund victim services of £20. His dog was also forfeited.

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Meet the team Contact numbers and locations for our Country Watch officers are shown here, should you need to contact them about your concerns and issues. Please note that these phone numbers should not be used to report crimes. You should call 101 if you think an offence has been or is about to be committed, or call 999 in an emergency. Although our officers are based in the locations stated, they have a countywide responsibility and can help you with any issue.

Insp Korine Bishop 07880 056657

Sgt Andy Williams 07392 314299

Special Inspector Iain Tunstell Special Sergeant Phil McCabe

PC Will Butcher 07775 542982

PC Vince Lane 07970 145389

Tadley Aldershot

Andover

Police Staff Investigator Melody Manning 07469 562444

Police Staff Investigator Hannah Levy 07469 562472

PC Steve Rogerson 07554 775468

Alresford

PC Lynn Owen 07901 102344

Special Constable Vicky Spearpoint

Bishop’s Waltham

Special Sergeant Phil Keeling 07392 289634

Special Constable Kev Saunders Special Constable Joe Earley

Lyndhurst

Yarmouth Ventnor

Special Constable Shane Phillips Police Staff Investigator Anna Presswell 07469 562221

PCSO Cat Quinn PC Scott Graham 07554 775488

PCSO Justin Keefe Temporary Sgt Justin Pringle 07901 102300

PC Ian Bassett 07775 537382

PC Tim Campany 07901 102393

HAMPSHIRE

PC Nick Massey 07901 102373

Register at www.hampshirecountrywatch.co.uk

Cut out and keep

PC Matt Thelwell 07392 314410

Special Constable Jaime Campbell