Rural Crime Crackdown: £10,000 Seized and Three Cats Rescued in Meopham Raid
A joint operation by the Rural Task Force Special Constabulary led to a dramatic search of a property in Meopham, near Gravesend on September 22. Officers seized a whopping £10,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act and rescued three cats. The RSPCA has now taken the reins on the investigation and any forthcoming prosecutions.
Busy September for Rural Officers
- Eight arrests made
- Four animal welfare warrants executed
- 22 vehicles seized
- Stolen farm vehicle returned to rightful owner
With harvest season wrapped up and fields cleared, the team has shifted focus to cracking down on hare coursing — an illegal, cruel blood sport wreaking havoc across the countryside.
Using Social Media to Crack Hare Coursing
To tackle hare coursing head-on, officers rely on the rapidly growing Farm Watch group. In just a few months, membership has soared past 1,500, helping police pinpoint and react to incidents as they happen.
“We are now beginning to see an increase in reports of hare coursing and poaching. This will be a significant concern to those in rural communities as the people associated with this crime often cause damage to property and can be extremely aggressive when challenged,” said Sergeant Darren Walshaw of the Rural Task Force.
“Kent Police has now joined a seven-force collaboration to tackle the issue and we are hoping to be able to disrupt this illegal activity by working with our neighbouring forces.”
