NGO calls for the creation of a task force to tackle poaching gangs

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) has written to the Government urging action following the recent escalation of organised rural crime perpetrated by poachers and hare coursers.
In December, a Wiltshire gamekeeper was brutally attacked by poachers, leaving him unable to work, and in January, hare coursing groups in 4x4s caused havoc and damaged property in Hertfordshire.
The NGO has written to Dame Diana Johnson, Minister for Policing, Fire, and Crime Prevention, requesting the establishment of a national task force to gather intelligence on these criminal groups.
The NGO is also seeking improved police response times, stronger enforcement, and increased sentencing for repeat offenders.
Director of Environment, Policy, and Politics for the NGO, Tim Weston, told GM: “When it comes to poaching and hare coursing, it is often gamekeepers who are at the forefront and end up dealing with these people face to face.
“We believe the police are trying their best, but the rural crime teams simply don’t have the funding or the resources to tackle the issue properly. This is why we have asked the Policing Minister to establish a dedicated national task force, which we hope will ensure a coordinated approach across police forces.”