AVON and Somerset Police have announced the launch of a new online form to report rural and wildlife crime.

This new police initiative is designed to streamline the process of reporting crime, making it more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly for everyone.

The new forms provide clear guidance on which type of crime to report and the appropriate form to use.

For rural crime reporting, the public can use a form to report agricultural crime, such as theft of equipment, machinery, livestock, or property, as well as criminal damage to agriculture land.

It also includes livestock worrying, which occurs when dogs attack or chase livestock on agricultural land.

And for wildlife crime reporting, anyone who may encounter or witness activities that harm or endanger wildlife – such as illegal hunting, hare coursing, poaching, badger persecution, bat persecution or the destruction of habitats – can use the wildlife crime form.

A representative of Avon and Somerset Police said: “Rural and wildlife crimes are often under reported due to the isolated nature of rural areas or lack of awareness about the types of crime that can harm wildlife.

“With these new forms, we aim to close the gap and empower the public to report such crimes in real time.

“The more information we gather, the more we can do to protect both rural communities and the wildlife which inhabit them.”

For more information or to report a crime, visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/rural-wildlife-crime