TWO males have been arrested for alleged poaching-related offences near Burbage.

A 999 call to the police led to the arrest by Devizes, Amesbury and Amesbury neighbourhood teams on the morning of September 12 with the two suspects now in custody.

A Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “Great work by Devizes response, Amesbury response plus Amesbury Neighbourhoods this morning! 

“Two males have been arrested for poaching related offences near Burbage after a 999 call was made to Police. They are currently in Police Custody.”

The force shared the logo of “Operation Galileo” with the news. The national operation counters illegal hare coursing - the illegal act of chasing, catching, and killing hares with dogs - by sharing information between forces.

Sergeant Fergusson of Wiltshire Police previously said: ““We have built close links with our rural communities which has helped us build intelligence around where hare coursers operate and sometimes who they are.

"Some criminals will travel hundreds of miles to be involved and are often associated with organised crime gangs.

“What many people don’t realise is that the hare coursing is a means to these gangs generating huge sums of money through live-streaming their activities for illegal gambling around the world.

"This then funds other criminal activity.”