POLICE have stepped up their efforts to catch poachers in Hampshire.

Officers have launched Operation Falcon to protect rural communities and tackle crimes like poaching.

It aims to promote working in partnership with other agencies and sharing information with the public to target resources where they are most needed.

Part of the operation includes joint police and gamekeeper patrols in vulnerable areas.

It comes after several incidents of poaching in the county.

Overnight on November 21 and 22 poachers were operating on land at Lower Wield near Alresford using a silver Honda CR-V, which lost its number plate starting Y547.

Police also chased a group of suspected poachers in the area of the A31 east of Winchester on October 10.

They have also urged farmers to be vigilant and take steps to secure their land, and call 999 if they see any suspected poaching taking place.

They have also urged people reporting poaching to take down number plates, vehicle models and if possible a description of what the suspects look like.