Category: Community

Police personnel from Dorset, Devon and Cornwall and Avon and Somerset Police Forces have taken part in a three day conference to gain a deeper insight into the many issues associated with rural and wildlife crime – in particular poaching and how illegal meat enters the food chain locally.

Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Special Constables were joined by representatives from organisations including the National Wildlife Crime Unit, Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Dorset Deer Management and the UK Deer Initiative last week.

The training sessions aimed to educate delegates about wildlife crime and the legislation surrounding hunting, poaching and various criminal acts that impact on rural communities, whilst sharing best practice, intelligence and operational tactics.

The event, which was opened by Assistant Chief Constable David Lewis at Kingston Mauward College near Dorchester, was the first of its kind in the South West region.

Dorset Police operational lead for wildlife crime, Inspector Mike Darby, said: “Cross border partnerships have proved successful in the past, which is why various organisations will be gathering together on a more frequent basis.”

“This training event gives officers and organisations opportunities to share knowledge and learn about the huge amount of legislation in relation to different species, including door mice, badgers, eels and bats and also gaining a further insight into fox hunting legislation and animal cruelty offences.”

The event covered an array of legislation which can be used by agencies to successfully prosecute offenders and identify wildlife crime offences. Participants were shown different types of traps and devices used to capture animals, the signs to look for in wildlife being poisoned and illegally killed. Delegates were also shown how to examine poaching sites and seize evidence.

Inspector Darby continued: “There are a wide range of laws which people can be prosecuted for. The people who commit rural crime offences tend to be involved in other types of criminality as well.

“Poachers rarely kill their prey humanely and the use of dogs allows them to attack and cause significant damage to the animal.

“We are contacted on almost a daily basis by members of the community who believe poaching is happening.

Dorset Police work closely with the National Wildlife Crime Unit who provides a close liaison point regarding wildlife crime and associated national intelligence about poachers and criminals who work across county borders.

Inspector Darby added: “Reports of poaching in West Dorset is quite significant. Wild deer and pheasant rearing operations are targeted along with hare coursing and fisheries. These crimes normally happen at night.

“These offences have a significant impact on the landowners where their property is damaged and their livelihoods impacted by criminal activity.

“Illegal traps used to poach and kill wildlife do not discriminate between wildlife, livestock or domestic pets.”

“We often get called by gamekeepers and landowners stating that there are people trespassing on their land. We will seek to take positive action against offenders.”

Crime affects the rural community just as it does in urban areas, according to Inspector Darby. He said: “A pheasant rearing operation; rearing thousands of pheasants each year brings in a huge amount of income.

“If 200-300 birds are killed in one night – either for the pleasure of it or to enter them into the food chain – that clearly has a significant impact on your business.

“People who commit rural crime have a significant impact on land owners and people’s legitimate businesses.”

“I would encourage anyone who knows people who are involved in this activity to contact us on 101 or speak to officers from your Neighbourhood Policing Team or if a crime is in progress, dial 999.”

Nick Parr, Senior Environmental Health Officer from Purbeck District Council attended the conference. He said: “Illegal poaching is commonplace in Dorset, which is why we’re keen to work together with partner agencies to combine skills and intelligence to prevent criminals engaging in activity which is unlawful.

“We are particularly concerned about illegally poached meat entering the food chain as this is an offence under food regulations and potentially harmful to the consumer   and damaging to legitimate food businesses.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill said: “A recent survey by the National Rural Crime Network found that 32 per cent of respondents are more fearful of becoming victims of crime than five years ago, compared to three per cent who are less fearful.

“I have met many rural business owners and residents in my time as PCC who have seen their livelihoods destroyed due to the severe impact of crime. I have met others who fear the same happening to them, so I can understand how the fear of crime is high in rural communities.

“It is vital we work with our communities to ensure we tackle these hugely impactive crimes head on. The role of the wildlife officers in tackling these issues is a key component to this, as is the training recently delivered. ”

This is an update to a previous alert sent from Action Fraud in November 2015.

Fraudsters are setting up high specification websites advertising various electrical goods and domestic appliances. These goods are below market value and do not exist. The website will state you can pay via card; however when the purchaser goes to pay, this option is not available and the payment must be made via bank transfer.

The fraudster entices the purchaser and reassures them it is a legitimate purchase by using the widely recognised Trusted Shop Trustmark. They then use the Trustmark fraudulently and provide a link on the bogus electrical website to another bogus website (which purports to be Trusted Shops). This website shows a fake certificate purporting to be from Trusted Shops and provides thousands of reviews for the bogus electrical website. These reviews are all fraudulent. The website has not been certified by Trusted Shops and therefore the purchaser is not covered by the Trusted Shop money-back guarantee.

Protect yourself:

• Check the authenticity of the website before making any purchases. Conduct a ‘Whois’ search on the website which will identify when the website has been created- Be wary of newly formed domains. You can conduct this search using the following website – https://who.is/
• Conduct online research in relation to the website, company name and the business address provided to identify any poor feedback or possible irregularities.
• Check the Trusted Shops Facebook page where warnings about websites using their Trustmark are published. If you are in doubt about the legitimacy of a Trustmark then you can contact Trusted Shops on 0203 364 5906 or by email service@trustedshops.co.uk. They will confirm whether they have certified that website.
• Payments made via bank transfer are not protected should you not receive the item. Therefore always try to make the payment via PayPal or a credit card where you have some payment cover should you not receive your product.
• If the item advertised seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

If you, or anyone you know, have been affected by this fraud or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

There has been a small series of distraction thefts in the North Dorset area where males have approached people returning to their vehicles after shopping and asking for written directions to somewhere.
Whilst the victim is assisting this person, there is a second person who has accessed the vehicle and stolen handbags and or purses. The victims bank cards have then been used either in the store or at near by cash points.

It is believed they are aware of PIN numbers as they have been watching their victims whilst in the shops.

Please cover the pinpad when making purchases.

Photographs of the suspects are available on the Dorset Police website www.dorset.police.uk

Please follow the link below to see a copy of the latest Dorset Police, Neighbourhood Policing Team newsletter –

Neighbourhood Policing Team Newsletter February 2016

 

 

We are at the final stage of the Your View consultation. Over the course of Your Dorset. Your Police. Your View we have learnt how you feel on many aspects of the our service, our findings are summarised in a recent press release found at http://bit.ly/1Rt1grs

In this final survey we are simply asking what are the areas of policing that you feel Dorset Police should be focusing on over the next five years. You don’t need to have taken part in any of the other ‪Your View surveys, we want to hear from as many people as possible. Findings from this survey and the other your view surveys will be discussed with all PCC candidates.

Please take the final survey at http://bit.ly/23YYAqp

Detectives searching for a wanted man believe that he may be in or around the area of Moreton in Dorset – with officers reminding the public not to approach the man, but immediately call 999.

David Chadwick, 58 and of Weymouth, was recently released from prison, having been convicted of sexual offences against children in 2013. After breaching his license conditions on Wednesday 10 February 2016 he is now wanted by the police.

Detective Inspector Richard Dixey said: “We now know that David Chadwick travelled by train from Weymouth to Moreton, near Dorchester, on Wednesday afternoon. We believe that he arrived in Moreton at around 12.40pm.

“We also understand that Chadwick purchased a sleeping bag on the same day and so it is possible that he is sleeping in outbuildings within the area.

“Officers have already conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries within the Moreton area and enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone who sees David Chadwick should not approach him, as he presents a risk to the public, but immediately contact Dorset Police on 999.

“There may be various reasons why he has not complied with his licence conditions and I appeal to him directly to make contact with police at the earliest opportunity.”

David Chadwick is described as white, of medium build, around five feet ten inches tall, with short grey hair and a small scar on his left cheek.

When last seen he was wearing a dark coloured, fleece style, jacket and glasses. He was also carrying A4 paperwork – believed to be an Ordnance Survey map.

DI Dixey continued: “I’d like to assure members of the public that officers are making every effort to find this man as soon as possible.

“I’d also like to remind members of the public that all calls will be treated in the strictest of confidence.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of David Chadwick should call Dorset Police on 999.
 

There have been three reports of thefts of purses from vehicles. The victim’s have been distracted by a male asking for directions, these have all happened in supermarket car parks across North Dorset. Bank cards have then been used to withdraw money.
Any sightings of suspicious persons in car parks please call Dorset Police.