In an effort to make it easier for the public to report rural and wildlife crime, Avon and Somerset Police launched an online reporting form.
This initiative is designed to streamline the process of reporting crime, making it more accessible, efficient and user-friendly for everyone. The new forms provide clear guidance on which type of crime to report and the appropriate form to use.
These include rural crime reporting: this form is specifically for incidents involving agricultural crime, such as theft of equipment, machinery, livestock, or property, as well as criminal damage to agricultural land.
It also includes wildlife crime reporting: if you encounter or witness activities that harm or endanger wildlife – such as illegal hunting, hare coursing, poaching, badger persecution, bat persecution or the destruction of habitats – please use the wildlife crime form.
It is important to report rural and wildlife crimes because they are often under-reported due to the isolated nature of rural areas or lack of awareness about the types of crime that can harm wildlife. With these new forms, the police aim to close the gap and empower the public to report such crimes in real time.