On Air Now

Mark Rowley

8:00am - Noon

New police team to tackle wildlife crime in Leicestershire

You are viewing content from Fosse 107 Hinckley and Nuneaton. Would you like to make this your preferred location?
Little Owl cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Dixon - geograph.org.uk/p/6175819

18 specially trained officers will make up a team covering rural communities across the county.

They have undertaken a five-day wildlife training course to gain a better understanding of rural issues and laws.

Wildlife crime includes hare coursing, poaching and interfering with protected species such as owls.

Leicestershire police said rural crime is under represented due to a lack of understanding of issues surrounding wildlife.

They hope the new team will encourage better working relationships between the communities and the police, as well as helping other neighbourhood officers understand rural crime issues.

PC James Johnson has worked for Leicestershire Police for seven and a half years and has recently taken on the role as a wildlife officer alongside his day-to-day duties as a beat officer.

He said: “This is something that has always been close to my heart. My great-grandparents had a farm that was passed down the family. My dad grew up on a farm and I have also married into a farming family, so it’s always something that has been in my life.

“It’s an issue that’s very personal to me and I look forward to giving something back to the community and providing a good service from the force.”

More from Local News

Five Day Forecast

  • Fri

    Sunny intervals

    13°C

  • Sat

    Sunny intervals

    14°C

  • Sun

    Sunny intervals

    14°C

  • Mon

    Medium-level cloud

    10°C

On Air Now and Next

  • Mark Rowley

    8:00am - Noon

    Good Friday Breakfast with the Test of Time after 9

  • Mark Foster

    Noon - 4:00pm

    Mark has your Good Friday playlist sorted

Recently Played

Follow us on Social Media