Local Priorities Wildlife crime issues Message

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Wildlife crime issues, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

Kent Police have received multiple reports regarding injured birds and wildlife being shot at with Catapults. This is occurring mainly throughout Hawley and Sutton at Hone.
We are very concerned about this on-going issue and are responding to all reports made and dealing with them robustly. We have increased patrolling in the area and are increasing the number of stop searches carried out where the incidents are being reported. Anyone matching a description, at the time and in the area that an incident is reported, will be subjected to a stop search where the grounds permit.
The Neighbourhood policing team are working alongside the Rural Task Force and Child Centred Policing Team to identify these individuals and put preventative plans in place and a stop to this behaviour.
We encourage reports of this nature to continue to be made to police and, we encourage residents witnessing this to provide police with descriptions of the offenders and images of them where safe to do so, please do not put yourselves in harms way to do this.
Please be aware that if a person, animal or property is in danger or at risk of being harmed or damaged, this is a 999 call.

If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.kent.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Get Involved

Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey.  We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on.  Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 

Please click here to complete the survey