Wildlife Crime Soars

9.19.00am GMT Mon 2nd Nov 2009

The hunting with dogs of wild rabbits at a Maidstone Children’s play area has generated big local concerns

New figures from the police show that the number of wildlife crimes in the UK more than doubled in the last year from 2,177 to 5,854, with incidents being recorded at a rate of 120 a week. In the Maidstone area local farmers have suffered significant damage arising from illegal hare coursing events on their land and it now appears that even our local play areas and nature conservation sites are not immune from this shocking trend.

Residents within a quiet neighbourhood of Penenden Heath, Maidstone have recently contacted their local Lib Dem Councillors shocked by nocturnal hunting and killing of wild rabbits with Jack Russell dogs in and around the Maidstone Council children's play area and nature conservation area at Shaw Close. The screams of frightened rabbits and sight of a local man carrying dead animals through the residential area has aroused local revulsion.

Aside from the obvious animal welfare issues, the potential danger to domestic pets and even local children arising from such an activity being pursued within this densely populated residential area is a cause for local concern. Alarm bells have also been set ringing that an area maintained especially for wildlife is being used as a hunting ground - upsetting the fragile eco-system, where rabbits provide a key management role by maintaining the open heathland vegetation structure so important to rare reptiles and insects.

Responding to reports from local residents and Councillors, Maidstone Council's Community Safety Team are now investigating and have spoken to the Police and RSPCA about the unauthorised hunting with dogs alleged on their land. Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems at Maidstone Council Tony Harwood stated "Urban cramming, pollution and new development is already taking a terrible toll on the UK's wildlife, so this shocking increase in wildlife crime could mean local extinction for some of our most cherished species. Locally, Lib Dems will work with our partners to ensure that zero tolerance is given to wildlife crime."