Undercover police swoop on suspected poachers

South Yorkshire Police, working alongside farmers, gamekeepers and landowners, launched a night of intensive action after feedback from rural communities that they were experiencing crimes such as poaching, trespassing and criminal damage.

It was the second such police activity in the area in the last four months and was prompted by villagers highlighting an increase in wildlife crime to the north, south and west of Doncaster and in the adjoining Rotherham and Barnsley areas. The two operations resulted in police arresting 17 people who were ordered to appear at court for poaching offences and three for vehicle offences. Four vehicles were recovered by police.

Superintendent David Hartley, the force's co-ordinator for wildlife crime, said: "We have been listening to our rural communities and recognised the growing concern relating to the use of 4x4 cars and trucks to enter land illegally for badger persecution, poaching and rural theft.

"I would like to personally reassure our rural communities of our dedication in enforcing the laws that protect them."