Economic downturn sparks poacher increase

Apr 11 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

POACHERS are increasingly targeting North Northumberland since the economic downturn started, it was claimed last night.

The Journal has spoken to two farmers and landowners in the North of the county who say poachers, sometimes armed and with lamps and dogs, have been travelling from outside the county onto their property at nights in recent years.

However, this has increased to several times a month or even week in recent times.

The farmers say the poachers access private land and sometimes drive across it in their quest to kill wild deer, foxes, hare or rabbits – some of which landowners allow to roam for game.

The poachers are said to have devastated one herd of roe deer that roams across the two farmers’ land, with the pack said to have reduced in number from 32 to six. The body of a lurcher, a breed of dog commonly used by poachers, has also recently been discovered, seemingly thrown from a vehicle.

Aside from the act of trespassing, the poachers are churning up sometimes freshly sown fields, and in some cases mixing up stock or, by leaving gates open, allowing farm animals to spill out onto roads.

Stoker Frater, National Farmers Union council delegate for Northumberland, based at Abberwick near Alnwick, last night said poaching is an ongoing problem but felt the difficult economic conditions might be to blame for any recent increase.

He said outlying farms could have a problem from people on the lookout for cheap meat to sell on the black market.

Mr Frater said: “Farmers just need to be a bit more vigilant because people are probably more desperate. Things are probably at a low for some people and desperation breeds crime unfortunately.”

Northumbria Police last night said it is aware of the poaching problem.

The force has set up a scheme called Gamewatch to tackle the issue, which works in the same way as Farmwatch.

Inspector Sue Peart said: “We are here to support our community and the livelihood of those who make a living off the land.”