Illegal Hunting Arrests in Oxfordshire

More illegal hunting arrests in Oxfordshire. Keep your eyes peeled.

Two men arrested for hunting act offences – Blewbury, Didcot

Thames Valley Police have arrested two men on suspicion of Hunting Act offences in Blewbury, near Didcot.

Two men aged 30 and 31 from Surrey, were arrested yesterday (21/9) at 4.10pm, in Streatley, on suspicion of illegal hare coursing in Blewbury, at around 3.40pm the same day.

A vehicle and a dog were seized.

The 30-year-old man has been bailed until 19 October, the 31-year-old man has been bailed until 22 October.

Three arrested on suspicion of hunting act offences – Fyfield, Abingdon

Thames Valley Police has arrested three men on suspicion of Hunting Act offences in Fyfield, Abingdon.

An 18-year-old man, and two youths aged 16 and 17, all from Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, were arrested yesterday (21/9) at 5.15pm, in Pusey, Faringdon, on suspicion of illegal hare coursing in Fyfield the same day.

A vehicle, mobile phones and two dogs were seized.

The three men have been bailed until 29 October.

Illegal hunting convictions

From Thames Valley Police:

Gary Malpass, aged 35, from Overmead, Abingdon; John Norman Woods, aged 31 from Boxhill Road, Abingdon; and Tobias Pope, aged 34 from Sunningwell Road, Sunningwell pleaded guilty to Hunting a wild mammal with dogs on Friday (12/12/14).

The incident happened on 28 November 2014. The three men were seen by a police helicopter in fields near Wootton with a high powered lamp and dogs at approx 1.20am.

Thames Valley Police were able to gain forfeiture of the high powered lamp, worth around £200.

Woods and Pope were fined £500 each, and ordered to pay £50 compensation and £85 costs. Malpass will be sentenced next year.

Detective Inspector of South and Vale CID Paul Powell said:

“We’re obviously very pleased with this result, and with the fact they all pleaded guilty to the charges. Hare coursing and hunting act offences are a priority for the South and Vale Local Policing Area. I commend the work of the officers involved in this case, particularly because their community impact statements were used in court.”

More illegal hunting arrests in South Oxfordshire

Eight men were arrested on Thursday (4/12) on suspicion of hunting act and animal cruelty offences.

Seven of the eight men were from outside the Thames Valley and live in Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey.

The arrests were part of an organised campaign to target rural crime in the South and Vale local police area, as part of Operation Monocle.

During searches carried out by police, five dogs were seized as well as other items related to the alleged offences.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld, said:

“Thames Valley Police have become increasingly effective at catching those who travel into the Thames Valley to commit crimes of this nature and I hope these arrests will serve as a warning to any others considering doing this in the future.”

Andy Boyd, Superintendent of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of the White Horse Local Police Area said:

“These arrests enforce our message that people who travel from outside the region to Thames Valley to commit crime will face the consequences.

"Operation Monocle has been extremely successful.”

“Between 1 August 2013 and 24 November 2013, we had 42 Hunting Act offences across our area. Since 1 August 2014 we have had 32 offences but have arrested 41 people, 31 of which are on police bail while enquiries continue.

“Considering we arrested 29 people during the whole of 2013 for hunting/poaching offences, we’re pleased to see our proactive approach to rural crime is paying off, reflected in our arrest rates.”

More illegal hunting arrests!

Keep your eyes open folks!

From Thames Valley Police;

Three men arrested for hunting act offences – Blewbury, Didcot

Thames Valley Police has arrested three men on suspicion of hunting act offences in Blewbury, Didcot.

A 20-year-old man from Bagshot, a 36-year-old man from Farnborough and a 53-year-old man from Aldershot, were arrested yesterday (11/11), at 3.28pm near Junction 11 of the M4 motorway on suspicion of Illegal hare coursing in Blewbury on the same day (11/11).

All the men have been bailed pending further enquiries until 18 December 2014.

Four men arrested on suspicion of daytime poaching – East Ilsley, Didcot.
Thames Valley Police has arrested four men on suspicion of daytime poaching in East Ilsley, Didcot.

A 46-year-old man from Ashford, and three men aged 25, 28 and 39 from Feltham, were arrested at 1.30pm on Sunday (9/11), suspected of daytime trespass with intent to pursue game in East Ilsley the same day.

All men have been bailed pending further enquiries until 11 December 2014.

Illegal hunting arrests in Oxfordshire

Thames Valley Police have arrested twelve men within a week in the South Oxon and Vale area on suspicion of hunting act offences.

Four men were arrested and their vehicle and five dogs seized in Longcot, Faringdon.

The men aged 72, 58, 47 and 23 from Pontypool, were arrested on Sunday (26/10) at 7am, on suspicion of illegal hare coursing on farmland in Longcot. The men have been released on police bail until 1 December 2014.

Three men were arrested in Cholsey on Friday (24/10) at 1.20pm, on suspicion of illegal hare coursing on farmland in Blewbury. One man age 36 from Surrey, and two men aged 29 and 21 from Wokingham, have been bailed until 29 November 2014.

Two men aged 20 and 22 from Reading were also arrested on Friday (24/10) at 3.25pm, on suspicion of illegal hare coursing in Woodcote on (24/10). Both men have been bailed until 29 November 2014.

Three men were arrested in Marcham, Abingdon. Two men aged 35 and 31 from Abingdon, and a 34 year old man from Sunningwell, were arrested on Wednesday (22/10) at 11.14pm, on suspicion of illegal hare coursing on farmland in Marcham. The men have all been bailed until 28 November 2014.