The end of the summer harvest triggers an increase in wildlife crime.

Police have issued a warning to poachers targeting sites across the Bradford district to stay away as they step-up efforts to combat crime.

They are focusing attention on four main priority areas – deer poaching, hare coursing, badger baiting and fish poaching.

Deer poaching is most prevalent in the Bingley area where tree planting has provided areas for the animals to congregate. “Poachers either keep the meat for themselves or sell it,” says divisional wildlife officer PC Keith Woodthorpe of Bradford South Police.

“The problem is that the slaughtering is not carried out properly and has health implications. Sometimes they use dogs to drag the deer down and it is chopped up in someone’s kitchen. In times of recession the number of incidents increases.”

Across the UK, the number of wildlife crimes more than doubled in the year to November 2009, from 2,177 to 5,854.

In the Bradford district, crimes against wildlife also include badger baiting with dogs, hare coursing, poisoning of protected birds and theft of eggs.

“Bradford has a city core and surrounding rural areas, so we get all types of wildlife crime, from deer poaching to dog fighting,” says PC Woodthorpe. “We are getting a lot more intelligence on dog fighting but it is extremely difficult to infiltrate. It is secretive and highly organised.”

West Yorkshire Police Force Wildlife Officer PC Sally Smart is currently devising a training package for neighbourhood policing teams that will raise awareness of the types of crime and current legislation, as well as giving information as to how it links with everyday policing.

“We now have an intranet site dedicated to wildlife issues and I have developed a special aid with information on poaching.”

Vitally, PC Smart points out, the public can help bring perpetrators to justice. “We ask them to be aware and ring in if they see anything suspicious. We rely very much on people’s eyes and ears.”

Attempts to dig out badger sets have taken place at spots within the Bradford district.

“We have had incidents near Bingley,” says PC Smart. “We work closely with Bradford Council and local rangers.”

Often, with deer poaching, the animal is not humanely killed. “It could be pregnant, and the stomach contents left in a field,” explains Sally. “As well as cruelty, there are serious health and safety issues. If anyone is offered venison for sale from anyone other than a reputable game dealer, they should report it.”

She admits that bringing the culprits to justice is not easy. “Because they move across country it is hard, but through intelligence-gathering it is possible to trace people.

“The process of collecting evidence is as rigorous as it is at any crime scene. We examine footprints and any blood left at the scene, any equipment used, and in some cases DNA could be taken – we use every resource available.

“Often, other offences are associated with crime against wildlife, such as the theft of quad bikes and diesel.”

In some areas, such as the Worth Valley, the successful police crime-fighting Farm Watch scheme is being launched to help beef up security.

Across West Yorkshire, groups of youths and adults using air rifles to kill and maim small mammals and birds are an ongoing problem.

“Many are on land without permission and some are using a firearm illegally,” says PC Smart, who also liaises with the RSPCA.

Poisoning of birds of prey is not always deliberate. “People use poison lawfully but incorrectly. If a red kite feeds on a rabbit that has been poisoned, it will die.”

Although wildlife crime is prevalent in rural areas, an increasing number of incidents are city-based. “There are more incidents linked to the internet, such as the buying and selling of exotic species,” she says.

One of PC Smart’s roles is to speak to schools. “I give talks and run workshops on subjects such as bats, and birds of prey which inhabit the Bradford area.

“We want to raise awareness of wildlife crime. TV programmes such as Countryfile and Springwatch have helped. West Yorkshire is forging forward in its work to protect wildlife. In the past five years we have achieved a great deal and are getting the message across.”

She hopes that the coalition Government will raise the profile of wildlife crime. “It has not been a priority and I would like to see that change.”