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61% increase in poaching
CASES of rural crime and poaching in the Driffield area have rocketed by 61% according to latest police figures.
But senior officers believe the increase is seasonal, saying: “Now the harvest is in, they’re going mad.”
The figures were revealed at the area’s police partners community forum meeting on Monday.
Police received praise at the meeting for their efforts to tackle the poaching and other rural crime problems although they were warned more needed to be done to combat criminals who come into the area at night.
Sgt Dave Jenkins, of the Driffield Neighbourhood Policing Team, told the meeting at the Driffield Access Centre that a number of police overnight operations were currently being carried out to tackle poaching.
He also revealed officers, working with a police helicopter, had stopped four men in a vehicle with four dogs and two lamps at the weekend.
Though the group were not found to have committed an offence, Sgt Jenkins said: “They were from Leeds and out for a ride at one in the morning, as you do!
“They were somewhat surprised by several police vehicles and a helicopter.”
And Sgt Jenkins also praised the work of the Farmwatch organisation which works in partnership with the police to alert farmers and officers to suspicious activity in their area.
He said: “I think it’s working fantastically. It’s come a long way since we started it.”
Anita Harrison, of Kilham Neighbourhood Watch, said she was sure officers were doing their best to clamp down on the problem.
But she added: “I don’t think they have got enough manpower to be in so many places at once.”
The meeting was told a farmer had been attacked by two alleged poachers in an incident outside the Driffield area last week.
And another speaker said gangs were “running amok” in the countryside during the early hours and warned that, while results so far had been “terrific”, more needed to be done to beat the night-time offenders.
Sgt Jenkins explained that rural crime issues came under the responsibility of the Neighbourhood Policing Teams and admitted he would like to do more about them.
But he added that while resources were limited, cross-boundary operations were being encouraged to target the offenders.
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Weather for Driffield
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: East
