POLICE are urging the public in Teignbridge to help report incidents of poaching in rural areas.

The Stop Poaching campaign has been launched by Devon and Cornwall police during National Wildlife Crime Awareness Week. Officers say there have been some reports of poaching around the rural parts of the district.

In recent years, incidents are less likely to be a lone poacher taking something home but a more organised operation where deer, livestock and fish end up in the food chain via restaurants, hotels or meat suppliers.

Environmental contamination can occur as a result of unhygienic processing by people operating outside regulations. A number of potential health risks have been associated with wild venison such as TB and e-coli.

Wildlife crime officer with Devon and Cornwall police PC Martin Beck explained: ‘Those who are making a profit from poaching and lifestock theft are making landowners lives a misery. These people are in it for financial gain and linked to other types of criminality.

‘Members of the public now have an opportunity to report these criminals.’

Poachers are known to trespass and they shoot or use dogs to take deer and threaten landowners.

PC Beck said: ‘By working together, we are looking beyond where the police have traditionally looked to stop this crime occurring. Ultimately the poacher is making his financial gain somewhere and this is where we will be looking next.’

Officers are keen to know where the meat is going, where it is being butchered and stored, who is buying it and where it is being sold. In some circumstances there may be a cash reward.

The south west Anti-Poaching group involves agencies working together, sharing information and intelligence and identifying people involved.

It includes police, Food Standards Agency, National Food Crime Unit, trading standards, environmental health officers, Environment Agency and Crimestoppers.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or call 101 or email [email protected]