A Sevenoaks man has been arrested on suspicion of wildlife cruelty after police seized 22 handmade catapults from his home.
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Officers from the Kent Police Rural Task Force arrested the 21-year-old at a property in the Greatness area on Thursday. The arrest followed reports of videos being posted on social media that appeared to show animals, including birds and a squirrel, being shot and killed. The suspect was later released pending further investigation. Since June, Kent Police have received an average of 14 reports per day related to the use or possession of catapults as part of an ongoing crackdown across the county.
Sergeant Ross Haybourne of the Rural Task Force said: ‘Officers and PCSOs across the force have been taking enforcement action against people who are suspected of using catapults to cause criminal damage or harm to wildlife, including the seizing of equipment, the issuing of Community Protection Warnings and arrests like in this particular case. The firing of stones, ball bearings or other objects at innocent creatures or people’s property is completely unacceptable and we are determined to put a stop to it. Please continue to report all incidents to us either online at www.kent.police.uk/report or by calling 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress.’