Rural residents using tech to help in fight against crime

One recent incident included the recovery of a stolen quad bike which was taken as a farmer worked his land and just 24 WhatsApp messages later, was recovered and the suspect arrested.

Flames tear through barn amid 'worrying' spate of Warwickshire farm fires

Police say a 'worrying' trend of devastating barn fires is emerging across parts of Warwickshire. The Warwickshire Rural Crime Team says a number of farms in the south of the county have been targeted.

'Starving' horses in poor condition rescued from wasteland in Derbyshire

Derbyshire Rural Crime Team officers have rescued three horses in poor condition from wasteland near Matlock.

Stillmans abattoir fine for food safety and hygiene breaches

A SLAUGHTER house on the outskirts of Taunton faces a court bill of nearly £50,000 after it was found guilty of breaching food safety and hygiene laws.

Range Rover stolen from Colburn in Catterick

It was stolen from Easton Way at around 7.30pm on Friday October 7.

Officers seize van full of stolen equipment heading towards Huntingdon

The Rural Crime Action team were on patrol in West Huntingdonshire at around 5.30pm on Saturday (October 8). They saw a van between Sawtry and Hamerton coming down a farm track onto the road

Exmouth: Police urge farmers to mark and lock property after tractor GPS equipment is stolen

Devon and Cornwall Police said three similar systems were also stolen from tractors in North Devon, overnight on September 16.

Inquest into death of father-of-two who was trampled to death by cows while out dog walking

An inquest is to be held into the death of a father-of-two who was trampled by a herd of cows while out dog walking with his wife.

Man accused of dumping milk in protests pleads not guilty to criminal damage

The court heard they each allegedly took a basket with 20 bottles of milk to a value of £38 and emptied their contents on to goods and the carpet at the store.

NORTH YORKSHIRE: Poaching crackdown sees offences fall by a third

The report by the office of North Yorkshire and York Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe highlights how since the launch of North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Figaro last year, 241 individuals have received warning letters and 41 have received Criminal Behaviour Warnings.

Devastation as thieves steal tractor, trailer and mower worth £8k

A Suffolk conservationist has said he might not be able to continue with a wildlife preservation project after thieves stole his agricultural vehicles worth £8,000.

Shropshire woman jailed after animals found in 'appalling' conditions on illegal puppy farm

A Shropshire woman has been jailed for running an illegal dog breeding business where animals were kept in appalling conditions.

Illegal puppy farm operators avoid ban from owning dogs

When Dorset Council officers and a vet visited their address in Three Legged Cross, it was found that the canines did not have a suitable environment and diet, they were not able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns and they were not protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Fife farmer’s £2000 fine for damaging badger sett

The court was told Brown did this without any regard to the consequences of his actions which were uncovered when a walker alerted a local environmentalist to the damage.

Stolen Polaris

Polaris stolen from East Brabourne last night 11.10.22

Canada goose suffers broken wing after being attacked by children

A Shropshire charity is urging people to report instances of 'wildlife crime' to the police after a Canada goose suffered a broken wing when it was attacked by a group of children.

‘Facebook fly-tipper’ banned from driving and will have vehicle crushed

A 'FACEBOOK fly-tipper' has been banned from driving and will have his vehicle crushed.

Malvern Hills Trust 'frustrated' after dogs attack sheep

The Malvern Hills Trust said it was "frustrated" at some dog owners after recent sheep attacks.

Bike gang hurls homophobic abuse and robs couple in Macclesfield Forest

Sgt Rob Simpson, of the Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team, said: "One of the reasons I love the countryside is because it's a great place to go and enjoy responsibly and lawfully, no matter what mode of transport we use, or who we are as people.

Car driver seriously injured in crash with tractor

West Midlands Ambulance Service said that two people in the car were injured – one seriously – and both had been taken to hospital.

Man who brutally killed two herring gulls before impaling one on a fence is jailed

Rural Engagement & Wildlife Enforcement Officer, PC Peter Baker, said: “This is an appalling case and I am pleased Johnston’s actions have led to a jail term. There is never any excuse for this kind of abhorrent abuse.

Poaching crackdown sees offences fall by a third in North Yorkshire

A problem-solving approach to tackling rural crime has seen the number of poaching incidents drop by almost a third in the space of a year, a report has revealed.

Sheep suffer 'horrifically painful deaths' in Cheshire livestock attack

Police are now investigating the incident and have called on dog owners to keep their pets 'under control'. They're also appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

North Yorkshire poaching incidents drop by nearly a third - report

The number of poaching incidents in North Yorkshire has dropped by almost a third in a year, a report has found.

White-tailed eagle poisoning statement from Dorset Police

Dorset Police has issued a statement about the investigation into the death of a rare white-tailed sea eagle found dead on a shooting estate in North Dorset in Jaunary.

GEA Farm Technologies (UK) Ltd fined after gas accident

A company that makes dairy and farm hygiene chemicals in Wiltshire has been fined after a large cloud of toxic gas was released into its factory.

Police make urgent appeal over dog stolen from Northamptonshire village

Sergeant Abbey Anstead of the force’s Rural Crime Team said: “Theft of any kind is unacceptable but to take an animal who is much loved and requires ongoing veterinary treatment is awful.

Shropshire police search premises over 'persecution of birds of prey'

Officers from Shropshire's Rural Crime Team have conducted a search of a premises suspected of being involved in the persecution of birds of prey.

Stolen tup

Blue texel tup stolen from paddock

Sheep suffer 'horrifically painful deaths' in livestock attack

A number of sheep suffered what police described as 'horrifically painful deaths' during a livestock attack in a Cheshire field.

Police investigate stolen sheep after one found slaughtered

Police are appealing to anybody who is offered cheap meat “not to accept it and report it to us as soon as possible.”

Second World War explosives found near Chester as bomb squad called

PC Ashley Tether, of the Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team, posted on Facebook: "As well as being part of the Rural Crime Team, myself, PC Moss and PC Stordy are also part of the Licensed Search Team for Cheshire Police . As a result, we get called to various searches across Cheshire and across the UK supporting other police forces as needed.

WhatsApp groups to help Durham Police tackle crime

More than 1,500 people from rural areas are using WhatsApp groups to give information to Durham Police in an effort to cut crime.

Suspected poisoning of three birds of prey

Lincolnshire Police’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) are investigating the suspected poisoning of three birds of prey in the Belchford area of Horncastle.

Lambs die in River Derwent flood waters in Cumbria

Dan Simpson and Ruby Cappleman of Seatoller Farm, Borrowdale in Cumbria have pleaded their local authorities to help managing the River Derwent near Keswick after a flash flood last week led to the loss of 58 of the couple's ewe lambs.

Poaching in Dorset suspects arrested in Bransgore

A third man has been arrested in connection with cruelty to deer and hares in Dorset.

Staffordshire and Shropshire: Hare coursing clampdown

The wildlife welfare officer added the activity could also lead to "vandalism of property, loss of income for farmers and landowners, theft, intimidation, and road traffic issues due to the driving of unlicensed and uninsured vehicles".

Teenager Freddy missing from Stolford farm

A teenager is missing from his family farm in Stolford near Bridgwater and detectives are asking people if they have seen him.

Heritage crime at St Catherine's Chapel, Abbotsbury: Police appeal

Officers are now appealing for anyone with information about the incident, which took place on Saturday, September 24, to come forward.

Thieves feared to have slaughtered more than 100 stolen sheep – as criminals ‘weaponise’ cost of living crisis

When farmer Ed Lovejoy rounded up his sheep last month, he was left “stunned” and feeling “pretty sick”.