Arrests and dog seizures follow day of action
A nationwide multi-agency day of action involving seven police forces in England and Wales targeting people who use dogs to hunt wild and domestic animals and involving animal cruelty both to the dogs and the hunted animals has resulted in seven arrests and a number of dogs seized.
The operation, which was run in collaboration between the Force Intelligence and Organised Crime Unit and the RSPCA, saw warrants executed at three different addresses in the Rhondda area and as a result a 21 year old man from Tonyrefail and a 35 year old man from Tonypandy were arrested in connection with animal cruelty offences. They have both been reported for animal cruelty offences.
Detective Constable Chris Jackson of South Wales Police’s Intelligence and Organised Crime Unit said:”The day of action was put together after intelligence was received concerning a network of people who use dogs for hunting wild animals from deer and hare to badger and foxes. Evidence has also been obtained concerning cruelty to domestic pets and farm animals.
”The operation saw officers from South Wales and Gwent police as well as Devon and Cornwall, Avon and Somerset, Dorset, Surrey and West Mercia target a number of addresses and a total of seven people arrested.
”Here in south Wales two men were arrested on animal cruelty charges and nine dogs, all displaying injuries linked to hunting, were seized.
”The operation has been run in collaboration with RSPCA inspectors who will now be taking the investiagtions forward.
”The illegal use of dogs for hunting and the cruelty inflicted on both the prey and the dogs themselves is something which will not be tolerated and the police and our partners in the RSPCA will do all we can to stop this kind of appaling behaviour.”
Detective Sergeant Craig Thomas added: “As a result of the multi agency approach, it was established that those involved in animal cruelty offences were also responsible for anti social behaviour, causing a great deal of misery to the local communities.
“The successful day of action not only dealt with those responsible for animal cruelty but shows that by working with our partners we have been able to reduce to anti social behaviour and improve the quality of the lives of those affected.”
If anyone has any information concerning this type of activity they should report it to the police by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 .
