Poaching now second most profitable crime

The extent to which the problem has grown now means poaching ranks as the second most profitable trade for criminal gangs, beaten only by the illicit drugs industry.

Deer poaching alone is estimated to be worth 5m, with up to 50,000 deer a year being stolen nationally and black market venison selling for about 1 a lb.

North Yorkshire Police, which is spearheading a hugely successful campaign against rural crime, has been receiving reports of up to 130 cases of poaching a week.

One of the force rural crime officers Pc Kevin Kelly said: "It is a commonly held misconception that poaching is often just individuals going out to catch a hare or rabbit for themselves, but that is certainly not the case.

"Poaching now falls within the bracket of serious organised crime, and it is an extremely profitable trade.

"We are certainly not anti-field sports, but we intend to continue to target the criminal activity that is putting livelihoods at risk." Plans are now being finalised to stage a region-wide crackdown on rural crime after police intelligence revealed a criminal network is operating throughout the North of England to organise poaching and hare-coursing events in isolated rural locations.

The recession has also been blamed for a rise in the problem of poaching wildlife as criminals look to adopt new sources of income by selling meat on the black market. North Yorkshire Police has stepped up crime-fighting in countryside communities, building closer links with farmers and residents living in remote areas.

A Rural Watch scheme launched in the Selby district now has 300 members who alert officers if they spot suspicious activity.

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