A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and crop damage, as well as other offences, following an investigation by Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team.
The man was arrested today today (Monday, October 3) on suspicion of eight counts of animal cruelty; two offences of killing or injuring a deer; causing criminal damage to crops; three counts of assisting an offender; driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence; and conspiracy to steal.
Dorset’s rural crime officers worked with members of Hampshire Constabulary to execute a warrant at an address in Bransgore following the investigation.
A dog, which is believed to have been used in poaching-related offences, was seized from the Bransgore address as well as further items.
The joint operation began after Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team started investigating a series of incidents relating to cruelty to deer and hares in the county.
Inspector of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, Richard Jeffrey, said: “We take reports of cruelty to animals very seriously and we have demonstrated how we will work with other forces to take a positive response.
“We will continue to work with our rural communities to investigate incidents of this nature and value the information and support they provide.”
Enquiries are ongoing to locate two further individuals who police believe to be linked to the incidents.
Animal cruelty
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) recently said that it received over 1 million calls to its Cruelty Line in 2021.
These calls included reports of:
- 1.094 killings, which is nearly three animals killed a day;
- 7,857 beatings;
- 632 mutilations;
- 38,087 abandonments
The RSPCA revealed in August of this year that animal cruelty, especially towards dogs, had risen significantly since the pandemic began.
It now has a ‘Cancel Out Cruelty’ initiative, which accepts volunteers, fundraisers and individual donations.
