York and North Yorkshire , A No Go Zone For Poachers ?

North Yorkshire Police are warning poachers to keep out of North Yorkshire, or risk severe consequences. That includes being put before a court, and having their vehicle taken away and crushed

Extra police patrols are already in place in rural areas, ready to respond to poaching incidents and intercept suspects as they travel into the county.

About 80 per cent of poaching incidents in North Yorkshire take place between September and February, often on farmland after crops have been harvested. Many offenders travel to the area from elsewhere in the region. Poachers travel in groups, with dogs, frequently in 4x4 vehicles. As well as being a wildlife crime, their activities can cause damage to fields, fences and crops, and put local communities in fear of violence.

As part of Operation Galileo, a multi-force operation to clamp down on poachers, suspicious vehicles will be stopped and checked, and anyone caught poaching will face a court appearance and prosecution – as well as the loss of any vehicles and equipment they’ve used.

For example, in August last year, police received late-night reports from the local community of hand lamps and vehicles lights shining on land near Tockwith. North Yorkshire Police officers responded immediately and stopped a Subaru Forester nearby – inside were two men, three lurcher-type dogs, and hand lamps.

At court they both pleaded guilty to entering land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment. They were fined and ordered to pay costs – and their lamps and car were ordered to be forfeited.

In August 2024, the Subaru Forester was crushed.

Officer in the case PC David Mackay said: “This is just one example of the police response that rural criminals face in North Yorkshire. With the excellent support of the local community, we will do everything in our power to stop them. In this case, a financial penalty and the loss of a 4x4 vehicle should certainly make poachers think long and hard before coming here again.”

Sergeant David Lund, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force, said: “Poaching is a serious crime that brings misery to rural communities. Selfish poachers don’t care about the financial and emotional impact of their criminal activity – but they do care about the fines and forfeiture orders handed to them at court.

“If you travel to North Yorkshire intent on poaching, you should know that we’ll be here to stop you, and put you before the courts. We’ll also be ready to take your vehicle off you, and put it out of use for good.

“To help us do that, we can count on the continued support of our rural communities, so I encourage anyone who sees any suspicious activity to report it. Your information might be just what we need to stop rural criminals in their tracks. Make a report via our website, or dial 101, press 1 and pass information to our force control room. If you see a crime being committed, please dial 999.”