Poachers Caught Red-Handed in Queenborough Rabbit Chase
Rural Task Force Cracks Down on Poaching
Officers from the Rural Task Force swooped on Thomsett Way, Queenborough, last Friday after reports of poaching on private land. They caught four men with eight Jack Russell-type dogs flushing out rabbits from the reeds to chase them down.
One Suspect Dives Into Dyke to Escape
A 33-year-old man tried to flee by diving into a nearby dyke but was quickly detained. He was arrested for breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order linked to previous poaching offences.
Community Warnings Issued to Others
- A 32-year-old man received a Community Protection Warning
- A 29-year-old man was handed a Community Protection Notice
- A 12-year-old boy with the group was given a stern warning
The Community Protection Warning warns offenders not to repeat their actions. Ignoring this leads to a formal Community Protection Notice, which bans trespassing and walking dogs off-lead on private land. Breaching this notice results in arrest.
Operation Galileo Fights Poaching Across Seven Forces
This crackdown falls under Operation Galileo, a national scheme targeting hare coursing and poaching. Seven forces — including Kent, Suffolk, Norfolk, Herefordshire, Cambridge, Bedfordshire, and another — share intelligence, use ANPR technology, and seize dogs to tackle rural crime. The Crown Prosecution Service backs this collaboration, empowering officers to act as one force.
