FOUR weapons have been seized by police following a joint operation targeting poaching and rural crime in the last week.

Using dispersal order powers, Highworth and Swindon South neighbourhood policing officers were joined by teams from Marlborough and Pewsey in the operation on Friday.

In total, eight men were stop-searched under suspicion of possible hare-coursing or other poaching-related offences, with four air rifles seized while inquiries continue.

Dispersal orders were also issued to the eight men, preventing them from returning to the areas for between 12 and 24 hours.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “Similarly, officers from Thames Valley were out on patrol in the Hungerford area.

“Vehicles were stopped and dealt with for no insurance and other driving related offences.

“Four males were stop-checked for possible hare-coursing, searched and details obtained, and issued a section 35 dispersal order and informed not to return to Wiltshire for 24 hours.

“Four males were stop-checked in the Avebury area, and four air rifles seized, with further enquiries into firearms and poaching offences to be made. Dispersal orders were issued for 12 hours.”

Officers also received reports of possible poaching in the Ramsbury area, but on arrival the men involved had been given permission by the landowner to be present on the land.

Police have advised anyone intending to go out shooting legally to inform their control room to avoid incidents in which their officers might be scrambled.

“Please let our control room know if you will be out lamping, to reduce the chances of coming face to face with armed response units,” added the spokesman.

“Unfortunately, in the past, incidents have occurred whereby armed response units have been sent to reports of persons out shooting which have turned out to be legal.

“The reason being is that people who are travelling around the roads, bridleways or public footpaths see people in fields or woods, hear shots and don’t understand what is happening, so they will call the police.

“This will be reviewed by a senior officer who may decide to deploy armed officers.

"We ask people involved in shooting sports that if they are likely to be near roads or public spaces to make us aware, so that when said member of the public calls in that there is a man in camouflage gear and face mask in a field with a gun, we can reassure the member of the public that what is going on is legal and we are aware of it.

“The British Association for Shooting and Conservation gives this same advice, and we receive quite a number of calls from responsible shooters when they go out already.”

Anyone with any information relating to poaching, or to inform police of a legal shooting excursion, should contact Wiltshire Police on non-emergency number 101.