First offenders convicted under the Hunting Act

by Michael Penkman. Published Tue 05 Jul 2011 12:25

Police in East Lancashire have issued a warning to poachers after the Constabulary secured its first ever prosecutions under the Hunting Act.

Nicholas Green, 23, of Reynolds Street, Burnley was handed a £400 fine after he appeared before Preston Magistrates where he pleaded guilty to hunting a wild animal with a dog.

He was caught after officers attended a report of a suspicious vehicle on the outskirts of Longridge and discovered a man leaving nearby farmland with lamps and two lurcher dogs.

Jeffrey Johnson, 34 of Forfar Street, Burnley, became the first person in Lancashire to be prosecuted under the Hunting Act.

Johnson appeared before Hyndburn Magistrates and was found guilty of hunting with dogs on the grounds of former Altham Power Station.

He was fined £270 and required to pay £265 in costs.

Police are continuing to crackdown on poaching and other associated crime, such as theft of farming equipment and are urging local residents to report any suspicious activity.

PC Carl Chew, Ribble Valley Wildlife Officer, said: "We take a tough stance on rural crime and work very closely with agencies including the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the Environment Agency, gamekeepers, land owners and farmers.

"We all work tirelessly to protect Lancashire's wildlife and I urge the farming community to continue to work with us to tackle the issue."

Wildlife crime officer Mark Thomas added: "Lancashire Constabulary is dedicated to stamping out illegal poaching and rural crime.

"We regularly work with our neighbouring forces in Merseyside and Cumbria to prevent criminals travelling across borders to commit crime in rural areas.

“We also use text schemes, such as FarmWatch, in more remote areas to send information out to residents so that they can take precautions to avoid becoming a victim of crime.

"I hope this action reassures the farming community that the police are working to keep Lancashire safe."

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