DETAILS of an ongoing war against organised gangs of poachers have emerged this week following the discovery of a fishing net full of bass on Bantham beach.

Chairman of the Aune Conservation Association Dr Stuart Watts said: 'I have submitted numerous reports from my members about poaching from boats, powered by quiet electric outboards at night, to the Environment Agency and the local police.

'The police have warned us not to tackle these organised gangs of poachers ourselves in case of violence but to leave the problem with them.

'Some local people are thought to have had their car tyres slashed for reporting poaching activities.'

Police later confirmed that they have been involved in a protracted battle with the poachers.

Sgt Dave Green told the Gazette: 'We have stepped up the number and scope of operations during the latter part of this year, including one recently that covered the whole of the coast of South Hams.

'On that occasion two men returned in their boat to an isolated beach at 2am to find police and marine management officers waiting for them, to search their vehicle and check their catch.

'The message that this sends out to the criminal fraternity is clear.'

Sgt Green added: 'For obvious reasons, I cannot disclose too much operational detail, other than to say we deliberately vary our tactics, sometimes flooding an area with resources in a high profile operation aimed at deterring criminals and reassuring the public.

'At other times we operate more discretely, targeting our attention in a more precise manner.

'Intelligence gleaned during each operation is fed into the planning for the next and information and expertise is shared freely among the partner law enforcement agencies.

More on this story in this week's paper