Wildlife crime

Freedom of Information Act request number: 2022-119

Version date: 01/03/2022

The Performance & Analysis Department have provided the following information:

For this request we have searched Niche records for any occurrences where the SC (stats class) description matches the following keywords Q1 - `hunting’, Q2 - `coursing’ and Q3 - `poaching’ during the time period requested.

Please note we are unable to advise whether an officer attended the scene at the time the incident was reported.

1) in the period between 1st January 2020 - 1st January 2022, how many incidents of illegal fox, deer, hare or mink hunting were reported to Dorset Police? And of how many of these did officers attend the scene at the time of the incident report?

Hunting a wild mammal with dogs - Hunting Act 2004 = 4 occurrences

2) in the period between 1st January 2020 - 1st January 2022, how many incidents of hare coursing were reported to Dorset Police? And of how many of these did officers attend the scene at the time of the incident report? 

Participate in a hare coursing event = 2 occurrences

3) in the period between 1st January 2020 - 1st January 2022, how many incidents of poaching were reported to Dorset Police? And of how many of these did officers attend the scene at the time of the incident report?

Daytime trespass in pursuit of game - poaching = 9 occurrences

Enter land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment = 8 occurrences