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Forging constructive relationships with police forces across the country - particularly rural crime units - remains a vital part of the NGO team’s work. These partnerships ensure that the challenges faced by our members are better understood and addressed within policing strategies.

Building Relationships with National Police Forces

 

Forging constructive relationships with police forces across the country - particularly rural crime units - remains a vital part of the NGO team’s work. These partnerships ensure that the challenges faced by our members are better understood and addressed within policing strategies.

In November, John Clarke, Director of Policy, Conservation and Uplands, attended both the Lancashire and the Leicestershire Rural Crime Conferences, where Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) were present. Discussions focused on the many forms of rural crime and their impact on our members, reinforcing the NGO’s role as a trusted voice in shaping responses to countryside issues.

Training and Knowledge Sharing

 
Earlier in the month, John delivered a dedicated training day to the Warwickshire Rural Crime Team, organised by NGO Regional Chair Jason Douglas. The session provided officers with an in-depth understanding of the role of gamekeepers, their responsibilities in conservation, and the legal frameworks surrounding trapping and shooting. This training strengthens frontline policing by equipping officers with practical knowledge of countryside management and its complexities.

Academic Engagement

 

John was also invited to speak to students of Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation at the University of Lancashire. His lecture introduced the role of gamekeepers, highlighting their contribution to conservation and the delicate balance required in managing the countryside.

Although gamekeeping and forensic science may seem unrelated, the connection becomes clear when examining the human and financial costs of poaching. Forensic techniques -particularly financial forensics -are crucial in tackling crimes such as illegal hare coursing. Understanding how hare coursing can generate betting returns of over £40,000, or how a lurcher can be sold for £75,000, provides essential insight into the organised crime networks behind these activities.

Strategic Importance
 
These November engagements illustrate the NGO’s broader strategy:

•     Influence – Ensuring rural crime is recognised and prioritised by PCCs and police forces.
•     Education – Providing officers with practical knowledge to improve enforcement and community relations.
•     Awareness – Highlighting the intersection of conservation, law enforcement, and forensic science in tackling organised crime.
•      Impartiality – Encouraging police and forensic teams to remain objective and evidence-led, resisting misinformation from organisations seeking to control the narrative or from stakeholders opposed to shooting.

By investing time in these relationships and knowledge-sharing initiatives, the NGO strengthens its position as a key partner in safeguarding the countryside, protecting wildlife, and supporting the rural community.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors:

 

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation: The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. The NGO defends and promotes gamekeeping and gamekeepers and works to ensure high standards throughout the profession. The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that keepering was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. Today, there are 13,000 members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation.  www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk

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