Easter is on the doorstep, birds are nesting, some have already laid eggs, and the national campaign to protect them is now underway. A new element to this year’s operation will target those who take the eggs or chicks of birds of prey, to sell to illegal falconries.
Collecting wild birds’ eggs is illegal and no longer just a schoolboy hobby. The police say it remains the pastime of a minority of individuals, who take whole clutches of birds’ eggs from some of Scotland’s rarest birds. The eggs are then stored in secret collections. Operation Easter will, for the first time, be run...
Devon and Cornwall Police has become aware that a company has been cold calling local people and carrying out a survey, claiming to be working in collaboration with the police, where personal details are being requested from those being called. We are informed that this company sell home security alarm systems. A police spokesman said: “Devon and Cornwall Police would like to clarify that we have not commissioned any organisation to carry out this type of survey and nor would we conduct surveys asking such personal information. “We work closely with our colleagues at local authorities...
With spring heralds the start of the wild birds breeding season and police are appealing to the public to be the ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground and inform them of any suspicious people they may see at nesting sites. Operation Wilderness, launched in 2012, is designed to combat persecution of birds. In the past the region’s birds have been targeted by egg collectors and others intent on breaking the law when near to the nests of some species. In 2011 Devon made national headlines when a record number of birds of prey were found poisoned in the area, among these were very rare and specially...
Police are asking the public for information after two boys were seen shooting an air rifle at birds. The incident happened at around 4.30pm on Thursday 28 February 2013 in the car park near to bridge at Bromhams car park in Exeter. Officers are keen to speak to people who may have witnessed the incident or saw the boys with the weapon. Anyone with any information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or the police switchboard on 101 quoting crime reference DE/13/1948
Seven people from West Cornwall have been charged with drugs offences following a two-year Police investigation.
The six men and a woman have all been charged with conspiracy to import drugs into the UK and also with supplying Class B drugs.
All seven will appear before Truro Magistrates Court on Thursday 28 March 2013.
Those charged are: Martyn Couchman, 34; Aaron Lampshire, 34; Valerie Isaacs, 48; Ryan Clapp, 24; Brian Hendra, 26; Jonathan Taylor, 24, who are all from the Camborne area; Peter Cuffe, 30, from the Redruth area. Police ref: AC/13/754
A man has admitted to repeatedly groping young women across Exeter in a series of attacks between 16 and 20 February.
Szczepan Majcherczyk, who lives on Powderham Crescent, faces jail after pleading guilty to five charges in front of city magistrates, including three sexual assaults and two public order offences.
The 32-year-old’s victims were mainly students from the university; in all cases he would proposition the victim before groping them.
Majcherczyk’s first attack took place at Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum, where he followed a woman around before...
A Barnstaple man has been jailed for nine months following an attack on a 15-year-old boy.
Exeter Crown Court heard that Mark Angell lashed out at the boy in an unprovoked attack last August, after receiving a call from his daughter claiming she was hiding in a shop after being harassed by a group of youths.
By the time the protective father arrived on the scene, the group had moved on, causing Mr Angell to turn his attention to the innocent passer-by.
Mr Angell denied causing actual bodily harm, but was found guilty by magistrates in North Devon. The case was then...
You can now text the British Transport Police (BTP) on 61016 to tell them about non-emergency incidents, similar to the ones you would report to the 101 phone number provided by your local police force. In an emergency always dial 999.
The text number will be monitored 24/7 and, while it is not for reporting emergencies, the BTP says it will be able to send officers if required.
When to use the text service: Text 61016 (or call 0800 40 50 40) when you want to contact the BTP about an issue that doesn't require an emergency response. For example, you can text when:...
A 56-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman in Torquay. Police were called to a property in Shelley Avenue at 6.40am today (6 March) and discovered the body of a 54-year-old woman. The man has been taken to Torbay District Hospital but remains in police custody.
A police investigation is underway and scenes of crime officers are conducting an examination of the property today. The cause of death has yet to be established and next of kin have not yet been informed.
Police in Honiton are appealing for information following an attempted robbery. The incident occurred at around 7.55pm on Tuesday 5 March in New Street Honiton. The victim, a woman aged 40 years was approached by a man who assaulted her by grabbing her right shoulder and spun her around to face him. He then grabbed her bag and punched her in the face. The victim kicked the man and was able to get her bag back before the suspect ran off. The victim was conveyed to hospital for treatment but was not seriously injured. The suspect is described as a white man, aged 20 years old, approximately...
