Authorities in Hampshire are currently looking into a string of disturbing animal murders. Approximately 50 rabbits, a falcon, and a barn owl were found dumped outside of a local village store.
Employees were deeply upset upon finding the corpses of the animals on Friday morning at the Broughton Community Shop. The shop windows were marked with blood and the two birds had been forcibly placed on the door handles.
A group of rabbits and birds, estimated to be dozens, were abandoned near a primary school in Awbridge last month, as reported by the Hampshire Chronicle. The newspaper also mentioned a deer that had been beheaded.
Residents of Broughton speculate that hare coursers were potentially involved. The area of Salisbury Plain is known to be frequented by criminal organizations that broadcast live events for individuals to place wagers on the first targeted animal’s demise.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police are currently attempting to determine the ownership of a silver Suzuki Grand Vitara.
The treasurer of the village shop, Mike Hensman, reported that there were hares on the shop’s patio and blood on the doors. He also noticed that a raptor and an owl had been placed on the shop’s handles.
“I don’t know what they’ve done but they’ve made a mess. And they can because there was no one overlooking them. However, we’ve got that on CCTV. We’ve got the whole thing on CCTV which we passed over to police for them to deal with.
The man who started the store – he is skilled with a firearm so he is accustomed to this type of situation. Nevertheless, he is still deeply troubled. He is finding it difficult to come to terms with what happened as it was quite terrifying. He mentioned that everyone in the shop was extremely distressed.
Volunteers reopened the shop six years ago and according to Hensman, it now resembles more of a high-end store like Fortnum and Mason rather than a typical village shop. They have a steady flow of customers, with over 100 people visiting each day. Broughton is a wealthy village with amenities such as a pub, church, and school. Many visitors, including walkers and cyclists, stop by for a cup of coffee. Crime is infrequent, with only a couple of reported break-ins in garages, which is to be expected in any area.
The rural area is vast and there is considerable concern due to the loss of protected species. It’s impossible to prevent the practice of hare coursing as it has been occurring for centuries. However, we refuse to let this situation discourage us and will remain strong.
A representative from the Hampshire Police department stated that they are currently conducting an investigation after receiving a report about deceased animals being found outside a shop in Broughton.
On the morning of February 9th, a total of 25 deceased animals were discovered outside of Awbridge Primary School. However, the investigation into the incident has reached a standstill.
The activity of hare coursing, where greyhounds or lurchers chase hares, was allowed until 2004 but continues to occur in expansive, flat spaces like Salisbury Plain.
Coursers are known to dump animals in farmers’ fields and in villages, something police say is often an attempt to intimidate people into keeping silent. Officers say that gangs cause a great deal of damage by trying to film the chases so gamblers, often in China, can follow the blood sport.
In response to worries expressed by farmers and law enforcement about the increasing prevalence of hare coursing, Parliament implemented a law in 2022 that prohibits the use of dogs to hunt for hares and grants officers the authority to conduct vehicle searches.
The National Rural Crime Network issued a report last week stating that 22 criminal organizations are involved in rural crime in the UK.
Source: theguardian.com
