Rural and wildlife crime
Types of rural crime
Rural crime tends to fall into one of four categories:
- agricultural
- equine
- wildlife
- heritage
It can also fall under environmental crime, which covers illegal waste dumping, fly tipping, polluting watercourses and land.
Agricultural
Agricultural crime covers working farms, farm machinery, farm buildings and smallholdings. Offences include theft of equipment or fuel, damage to property and livestock worrying.
Equine
Equine crime covers working stables and equestrian centres and includes offences like tack theft and livestock worrying.
Wildlife
Wildlife crime includes hare coursing, poaching and interfering with protected species.
Heritage
Heritage crime is defined as 'any offence which harms the value of Britain's heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations'.
That can include offences like lead theft from churches, damage to ancient monuments and illegal metal detecting.
Find out which force you need to report rural crime to
Wildlife crime
Wildlife crime includes:
- poaching
- coursing
- offences against badgers and bats
- offences against birds
- egg theft and collection
- collection of or trade in protected species and animal products
- not registering animals which require a licence
- taking protected plants
- use of poisons, snares or explosives to kill or injure animals
- animal cruelty
- hunting with dogs
- introducing invasive species
- killing or capturing, damaging or destroying the habitat of any protected animal
- illegal fishing