New dedicated police unit tackling rural, wildlife and heritage crime across East Riding

Humberside Police has set up a new, dedicated unit which will tackle rural, wildlife and heritage crime across the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The new Rural Task Force will be operating across the East Riding area.The new Rural Task Force will be operating across the East Riding area.
The new Rural Task Force will be operating across the East Riding area.

The Rural Task Force will be based at Driffield Police Station and consists of four police constables and one sergeant.

The team is targeting those who decide to commit crime within the area’s rural communities.

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The task force will continue the pro-active work already undertaken by the police community teams who are targeting hare coursing and poaching, marine wildlife disturbance, raptor persecution as well as offences around hunting with dogs, badger baiting and heritage crime.

There is also a focus on supporting and co-ordinating disruption around plant and agricultural theft and other associated crime.

The new team will be working in partnership with Humberside Fire and Rescue, utilising the latest drone technology to achieve best evidence of hunting and poaching offences, and also East Riding of Yorkshire Council with further enforcement opportunities around Community Protection Warnings and Notices for those who commit wildlife crime within this area.

A close working relationship has already been established with neighbouring forces and the task force intends to continue this with increased sharing of intelligence and information to target those who travel across the border to commit offences.

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Leading the task force is Neighbourhood Police Inspector Jon Powell.

He said: “Over the years Humberside Police have worked tirelessly to tackle rural crime and help to make our rural communities feel safer.

“This new team will focus on disruption of criminal activities, apprehension, arrest, charging and prosecution of offenders.

“All with the aim of deterring others from committing similar offences. This will send out a clear message that rural, wildlife and heritage crime will not be tolerated.

“The team will be building on existing relationships with local rural communities, groups and businesses which will develop and support them in tackling crimes that affect them most.”