WHITCHURCH Silk Mill is calling on the community to keep an eye out for poachers that have been active in its waters.
The historic site now has “very few fish left in our pond and rivers” due to the wildlife crime, and staff have asked for anyone who sees people fishing from Winchester Bridge to contact the police.
A number of incidents have been logged on the river since June 2, and one assault was also reported on a river keeper between Tufton and Longparish on June 27.
The river keeper was not injured and the suspects left in a green Subaru Forester with a blacked out number plate.
A police spokesperson said: “We have had a number of reports of fish being poached from Tufton to Whitchurch at various sections of the river.
“Each time they have been either hand line fishing or using rods.
“We urge people to provide details of registration numbers, detailed descriptions of those involved and images/video if they can do so safely.
“We have been patrolling sections of the river regularly.”
Two men in their late teens, three men ‘youngish’ slim-build and four men in their mid 30s have been described to police.
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