Rural gangs linked to drug operations

Poaching and hare coursing gangs often linked with major drugs operations are behind most crimes against wildlife. In Cumbria last year, 363 wildlife crimes were reported to the police and of those 211 involved poaching, hare coursing and lamping – hunting animals at night with high-powered lights. In one incident at Sandysyke near Longtown, three [...]

Group news Sept – Dec 2011

now added to our website at www.nwhsa.org.uk/group_news_2011b.html

Trying to connect with the common man/woman?

Lieutenant General Sir Barney White-Spunner, has been appointed Executive Chairman of the Countryside Alliance and Director of the Countryside Alliance Foundation with effect from 9th February. I’ve heard he is a binman and lives in a council flat, (not that there is anything wrong with that)  

Man defiant following illegal hunting charge

Police caught two men hare coursing after they were seen hunting illegally on a farmer’s field. Colin Morrell (51) and Simon Jones (30) admitted breaking the 2004 Hunting Act when they appeared at Loughborough magistrates court yesterday. The court heard the defendants were spotted with lurcher-type dogs in a field at Langham, near Oakham, at [...]

Men charged with snare-setting to catch rare mountain hare

Two men have been charged with laying snares to trap rare mountain hares on a Highland estate. Kevin Begg, 45, and David Taylor, 64, are alleged to have used 24 snares to trap the white hare on Lochindorb Estate at Grantown-on-Spey on April 19. At the time of the alleged offence the estate was owned [...]

‘Ilegal hare hunt’ claims probe in Pendle

A POLICE probe has been launched after complaints were made about a hunt illegally chasing a wild hare. Officers are looking into claims a pack of hounds followed by around 20 hunters on horseback were chasing the animal across fields between Barnoldswick and West Marton on Saturday afternoon. The hunters, dressed in red blazers, black [...]

Stokesley poacher is given an Asbo

A PROLIFIC poacher who committed a series of offences over six years has been given an anti-social behaviour order. John Langan from Stokesley was arrested by officers in March 2010 in Bridlington and charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs. Humberside Police then applied for the Asbo due to the high number of poaching [...]

Poachers be warned

Monday 11 July 2011 Police in the Ribble Valley have issued a warning to poachers after the Constabulary secured its first ever prosecutions under the Hunting Act. Nicholas Green (23), of Reynolds Street, Burnley, appeared before Preston Magistrates on June 22nd where he pleaded guilty to hunting a wild animal with a dog. He was [...]

Article on North Wales gamekeeper

Please can you post a comment or send a letter about the article below, I have never read so much rubbish in my life. Gamekeeping is a way of life http://www.dailypost.co.uk/farming-north-wales/farming-news/2011/06/02/gamekeeping-is-a-way-of-life-find-out-more-55578-28805622

Phil Spencer of Channel 4 supports bloodsports

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=player_embedded&v=zQffb-Jt6uI Phil Spencer of Channel 4′s ‘Location Location Location’ programme goes pigeon shooting, deerstalking and talks about his support for the Countryside Alliance.