The UK’s largest shooting organisation, The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) is working with Hampshire Police to support training for frontline officers and staff to improve their understanding of rural activities and raise awareness of issues affecting those who live and work in the countryside. Hampshire Constabulary has created a comprehensive training package which includes input from BASC.
Over the coming weeks 1,050 officers and police staff working in rural areas will take part in a two-day training course which will include content on lawful shooting and related countryside management activities, presented by BASC South East Regional Director Dan Reynolds
Dan said “BASC welcomes this training initiative which is a significant commitment by Hampshire Constabulary to improve the service they provide to rural communities. Hampshire is predominantly rural and so training which improves how police respond and interact with people engaged in shooting and with other users of the countryside is a positive step. BASC has been working with Hampshire Police on a number of initiatives in recent months and I am pleased to continue our work with them.”
The training is being coordinated by Sgt. Louise Hubble who said: “The constabulary has recognised that officers and staff working in rural areas could benefit from this training. The constabulary has produced a two-day training package designed to raise awareness of rural issues. This will help officers to better understand some of the activities undertaken by farmers, gamekeepers, land managers, game shooters and pest controllers, as well as highlighting some of the tools of their trades. It is hoped that the input will give rural officers better knowledge and confidence to deal with rural crimes effectively, as well as a greater understanding of how our rural communities operate.”