Officers from the Northumbria Police Rural Crime Team and Alnwick and Hexham NPT alongside partners from the RSPCA and National Wildlife Crime Unit executed warrants at two addresses, one in Hexham and a second in Longframlington. 

The force confirmed that the action was taken after they received intelligence that people at the properties were believed to be involved in hunting badgers and foxes. The warrants were executed simultaneously, and officers conducted thorough searches of both properties, resulting in a number of electronic devices and animal traps being seized.

The Force’s Wildlife Enforcement Officer, Peter Baker, has welcomed the results of the searches. He said: “When suspected illegal hunting by individuals living at these addresses and after it was brought to our attention by the Naturewatch Foundation, we joined forces with partners and acted. As a result a number of items commonly used by poachers and illegal hunters have been seized while our investigations continue.”