POACHERS who have been at work in the fields around Pewsey have been targetted by police this week, with three groups stopped, two vehicles and five dogs seized and several men arrested.

Operation Engage, which aims to stamp out the practice of lamping, where car headlights are shone across fields and dogs used to poach game, has seen Wiltshire Police’s Rural Crime Team make a number of arrests since last Thursday (August 4) around Pewsey, Upavon and Everleigh.

Last Thursday night police forces seized a Subaru near Figheldean after men and dogs were seen lamping, resulting in the car being driven off road and stopping in a riverbed. The men in the Subaru attempted to evade arrest but were found and arrested later that evening.

The next evening a Land Rover was also seen lamping near Everleigh and was pursued by police officers, which resulted in a further two arrests. On the same night a Vauxhall Astra containing with five men and dogs was also stopped. Officers handed the men a Section 35 notice, meaning they were ordered to leave Wiltshire for an allocated amount of time.

PC Marc Jackson from the Wiltshire Rural Crime Team said: “The aim of this operation is to work alongside rural communities who are affected by rural based criminality such as burglaries, thefts and poaching related offences, which has a significant effect on those communities

“Communities around Pewsey, Everleigh and Upavon have concerns over night poaching, damage to crops and thefts from outbuildings on both farmland and the Salisbury Plain training area.”

Angus Macpherson, police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon, said: “I would urge everyone living in our rural communities to report any suspicious activity and pass on to Wiltshire Police any information they may have about planned illegal activities such as hare coursing, poaching or hunting.”

Since the start of the operation two vehicles, the Subaru and Land Rover, have been seized, two lamps and five dogs also seized and a total of 21 vehicles stopped.

Anyone who may suspect instances of lamping are asked to call Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.