Hampshire police receive award from RSPCA

[cookingfat]

Hampshire & IOW constabulary leading the way in deer welfare and now rewarded with an award from the RSPCA, Hampshire constabulary are promoting there highly trained HAD model to other police thought out the country, the model saves police forces 10's of thousands of pounds and has experts in the deer world who have received expert training from police firearms , HAD assessors and British deer society assessors to do this vital volunteer work at the roadside for the police.

https://www.hampshire.police.uk/news/hampshire/news/news/2025/november/hampshire--isle-of-wight-constabulary-wins-innovator-for-animal-welfare-award-at-the-rspca-pawprints-awards-2025/?mc_cid=772fff5467&mc_eid=d27bd5fba0

Hampshire are still looking for more suitable volunteers
If you think you can help then please consider and book onto the next DMQ HAD course in January 2026

 

[Scarpa]

Nice to see the recognition for this work.

 

[long_range_rob]

So who’s saving Hants these £10’s of thousands oh yea, it’s the blokes (and ladies) spending their money on training, insurance, safety equipment, vehicles, fuel and business insurance to do this unpaid work in all weathers and all times of the day and night.

But it’s lovely to see the people in uniforms patting each other on the back for a job well delegated.

 

[Hazlett]

Personally I am very grateful for the people who take their interests in the welfare of deer to the point of volunteering for this scheme. I would expect Society also to be pleased that it allows the Police, rather than save the money, to focus their efforts on mainstream Police work.

This has become so important in some areas because of the increasing number of deer. Society might ask whose job it is to control the number of deer anyway.

To those on SD who are so quick to highlight another nail in the coffin, here is a clear endorsement by the Police, wildlife organizations and (like them or not) the well-supported and influential RSPCA that private ownership of firearms is a good thing, possibly even essential.

They've done us a favour, so I think we should give a medal to the individual officers and the Force for committing their efforts to developing this over the years. And if you don't want to go as far as a medal, at least allow them a pat on the back.

 

[cookingfat]

So who’s saving Hants these £10’s of thousands oh yea, it’s the blokes (and ladies) spending their money on training, insurance, safety equipment, vehicles, fuel and business insurance to do this unpaid work in all weathers and all times of the day and night.

But it’s lovely to see the people in uniforms patting each other on the back for a job well delegated.

Yes you absolutely right its the volunteers who are saving there constabulary and there community money,
I can't speak for all of Hampshire and TVP volunteers but what I can tell you is the majority of them don't see it as unpaid work, they see it as giving something back to the deer and there local community
As for the vehicle insurance if you tell your insurance company its unpaid voluntary work there will be no charge but I guess it depends on who your insured with.
As for fuel cost all the HAD volunteers can claim a mileage allowance but guess what the majority dont

As for your last comment about being delegated, All the HAD volunteers are better placed and far more experienced with dealing with deer than most police FA's officers and have more tools in the box to humanly and safely carry out the job.

Lastly the training, yes it should be free or any money made from the course should go back into the constabulary to help with PPE, I don't know what's left after the trainers and DMQ take there bit out of moneys charged for a course, apart from a trip up to Derbyshire I have never charged anything for my time or traveling.

Tony

 

[ndjfb00]

Couldn't see if this has been posted so thought I'd put it out there, the people behind running and organising this scheme have been recognised (volunteers commended too in the artical)

Police volunteer scheme for injured deer wins national animal welfare award

HAD volunteers, who are all experts in the field of deer management, are dispatched by the force control room across Hampshire.

www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk

I know HAD topics (along with copper vs lead) receive a massive amount of traffic on here but the bottom line is that there are actually people out there willing to ease the suffering for free, for the animals we get of a bed at stupid o'clock to go find.

 

[Mike1979]

Couldn't see if this has been posted so thought I'd put it out there, the people behind running and organising this scheme have been recognised (volunteers commended too in the artical)

Police volunteer scheme for injured deer wins national animal welfare award

HAD volunteers, who are all experts in the field of deer management, are dispatched by the force control room across Hampshire.

www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk

I know HAD topics (along with copper vs lead) receive a massive amount of traffic on here but the bottom line is that there are actually people out there willing to ease the suffering for free, for the animals we get of a bed at stupid o'clock to go find.

Thanks for posting and agree that despite the political "noise" around the subject there are some great guys and gals out there willing to put themselves out to ease suffering

 

[75]

the bottom line is that there are actually people out there willing to ease the suffering for free

I thought these schemes were generally "at cost" to individuals? You had to pay to go on a bunch of training courses to then go and give up your time for free?

 

[ndjfb00]

I thought these schemes were generally "at cost" to individuals? You had to pay to go on a bunch of training courses to then go and give up your time for free?

Yep exactly that

 

[Rake Aboot]

It’s a no from me

This is basically an advert to attract more free dispatchers to save even more money for the constabulary.

Very few do it for any animal welfare reasons , they do it because they hope it will somehow expand their stalking rights . That’s why the pay through the nose for the privilege of shooting a deer at the roadside to save the police from dealing with it .

I’d hate to think how many neglect to get business insurance for their vehicles as well.
How ironic if they show up to kill a deer and the police onsite end up impounding their vehicle for not having correct insurance in place .

Rod/Back

 

[8x57]

I wouldn't get too negative about vehicle insurance it won't affect most, cooking fat already covered that in his previous post.

"As for the vehicle insurance if you tell your insurance company its unpaid voluntary work there will be no charge but I guess it depends on who your insured with.
As for fuel cost all the HAD volunteers can claim a mileage allowance but guess what the majority dont"

 

[ndjfb00]

W

It’s a no from me

This is basically an advert to attract more free dispatchers to save even more money for the constabulary.

Very few do it for any animal welfare reasons , they do it because they hope it will somehow expand their stalking rights . That’s why the pay through the nose for the privilege of shooting a deer at the roadside to save the police from dealing with it .

I’d hate to think how many neglect to get business insurance for their vehicles as well.
How ironic if they show up to kill a deer and the police onsite end up impounding their vehicle for not having correct insurance in place .

Rod/Back

Wow! Such negativity, I must confess, obtaining additional permissions is something I had not considered, and in my case not many opportunities present themselves on truck A roads.

Please tell me you aren't against all volunteers? aka RNLI, MacMillian, Comic Relief, Age UK, Guide Fogs for the Blind etc etc

 

[Rake Aboot]

W

Wow! Such negativity, I must confess, obtaining additional permissions is something I had not considered, and in my case not many opportunities present themselves on truck A roads.

Please tell me you aren't against all volunteers? aka RNLI, MacMillian, Comic Relief, Age UK, Guide Fogs for the Blind etc etc

I certainly wouldn’t compare myself to any of those life changing / saving organisations just for shooting an injured deer mind

So no , I’m not against them , why would I be ?

 

[Grand Slam]

If a nationwide roll out prevents the unnecessary suffering of deer due to a DVC then we can surely all welcome it. If people choose to give up their own time to be on a call out register then that is there choice. I may be wrong but I have known of nobody getting permissions off the back of a human dispatch.

Last time I was involved with a deer vehicle collision I was refused permission by the police to dispatch the deer using firearm (Even though I did and still have that condition on my FAC). fast forward over an hour, armed response show up, get fully kitted up, shoot the deer (Fallow buck) twice in the face (and yes I mean face, not heat), pack up their gear and drive off. Upon approaching the buck, it was noticeably still alive, albeit less mobile. I dispatched with a knife and have had words with some of the firearms department for that particular county.

Prior to this I spent a good few years in Suffolk and they welcomed the volunteers, and even apologised that they were no longer in a position to pay for our services.

 

[ndjfb00]

I certainly wouldn’t compare myself to any of those life changing / saving organisations just for shooting an injured deer mind

So no , I’m not against them , why would I be ?

No, I'm not comparing you to those Orgs I'm gauging your views on 'volunteers' who do grease the wheels of everyday life, it matters not the role but the fact they/we are volunteers, that's the key, but hey, I get it and understand it's not for everyone, I'm certainly not in it to better my own agenda.... Getting shooting ground that's for sure.

 

[cookingfat]

It’s a no from me

This is basically an advert to attract more free dispatchers to save even more money for the constabulary.

Very few do it for any animal welfare reasons , they do it because they hope it will somehow expand their stalking rights . That’s why the pay through the nose for the privilege of shooting a deer at the roadside to save the police from dealing with it .

I’d hate to think how many neglect to get business insurance for their vehicles as well.
How ironic if they show up to kill a deer and the police onsite end up impounding their vehicle for not having correct insurance in place .

Rod/Back

I think your wrong about HAD's not doing it for welfare reasons, during the interviews mosts of the candidates say they doing it for welfare reasons and wont to give something back to the sport they have taken much from.

The insurance is checked before starting the scheme and as I said if you talk to your insurance company and tell them its unpaid voluntary work they will most likely accommodate.

 

[Rake Aboot]

What else are they going to say ?

 

[Rake Aboot]

No, I'm not comparing you to those Orgs I'm gauging your views on 'volunteers' who do grease the wheels of everyday life, it matters not the role but the fact they/we are volunteers, that's the key, but hey, I get it and understand it's not for everyone, I'm certainly not in it to better my own agenda.... Getting shooting ground that's for sure.

I get that and have done plenty volunteer work in the past , but not this .

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I thought these schemes were generally "at cost" to individuals? You had to pay to go on a bunch of training courses to then go and give up your time for free?

I never did any training, all it cost me was sleep, fuel and ball ache!

4 years I did and to be honest was glad to get shot of the shackles, you soon found out who did the work because the phone rang a lot, so there obviously there’s a lot of people that didn’t pick up the phone when it was quite rightly their turn!

In all honesty let the police deal with it

 

[cookingfat]

I never did any training, all it cost me was sleep, fuel and ball ache!

4 years I did and to be honest was glad to get shot of the shackles, you soon found out who did the work because the phone rang a lot, so there obviously there’s a lot of people that didn’t pick up the phone when it was quite rightly their turn!

In all honesty let the police deal with it

Lee I can't believe you don't believe in training after going through what you did with your tracking dog!

HAD work at the roadside is no different, If your representing your constabulary and working with your firearm at the roadside then in this day and age you need training, the dispatch Side of it is very simple and you will know how to do that safely and humanely, dealing with police offices and members of the public is different and that's where the training comes in.

The police FA officers dont have the experience or some times the tools in the box to do the job humanely, well trained volunteers do.