A MAN has been arrested in connection with an incident where a number of dead animals were left outside a shop in Broughton.

Police were called on the morning of Friday, March 15, after around 50 dead hares, a kestrel and a barn owl were found outside the Broughton Community Shop, in High Street.

An investigation was launched and officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Country Watch team have been following various lines of enquiry.

A police spokesperson said: “Part of our enquiries have included examinations of the barn owl and kestrel. Those examinations revealed that both birds had been shot with a firearm. Both the kestrel and the barn owl are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, giving them legal protection.”

  • rahEnglish
    4·
    9 months ago

    Why the fuck did he do it, though?

    I read previously that there had been conflict between locals in the area and poachers. The dead animals started appearing in the same place as where the conflict began and the situation has continued and escalated. So basically aggressive, violent poachers trying to intimidate locals:

    Locals reportedly believe the incidents are carried out by poachers sending a “message” to locals to keep them from interfering. The culprits are thought to be linked to gangs who broadcast their activities live on Facebook.

    One local farmer, whose land has been targeted repeatedly, told the paper: “They are basically laughing in our faces. The horrific display they left outside our community shop is obviously meant to let us know they’re invincible.”

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/dead-animals-dumped-hampshire-shop-car-police-b2513975.html