Training has been given to 1,100 Hampshire Police officers and staff over the last year by the UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).
The training was given to front-line officers, emergency call handlers, control room staff and force enquiry officers.
The aim was to improve their understanding and raise awareness of shooting and issues affecting people who live and work in the countryside.
BASC’s element of the training was designed to help highlight different types of lawful shooting.
The training also covered illegal activity affecting rural communities such as deer poaching and hare coursing.
Dan Reynolds, BASC England South East director, said: “We have enjoyed working with Hampshire Constabulary to help with their wider training on rural issues. Hampshire is a largely rural force and this training will not only benefit the officers and staff involved but also the rural communities in which they serve.
“Our specific input to raise awareness about shooting will hopefully bring about a better understanding of legitimate shooting activities and so improve contact between the police and those who shoot.”
Inspector Louise Hubble, Strategic Rural Policing Inspector for Hampshire and the Isle Of Wight, said: “The delivery of this training package presented us with an opportunity to improve the knowledge of our Police Officers and Police Staff on rural issues. By raising their awareness of lawful and unlawful activities that take place in the countryside we have improved our ability to ask the right questions to secure best evidence, and to distinguish lawful activities such as pheasant shooting and fox lamping from illegal activities such as hare coursing and deer poaching. Hampshire Constabulary is very grateful for the support, expertise and commitment demonstrated by BASC. It is in everyone’s interest to ensure that training such as this happens in every rural force”.
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For more information call the BASC press office on 01244 573052