POLICE rural crime teams have gained an insight into shooting and conservation.

Eighteen rural crime officers from two Welsh police forces were given an introduction to shooting sports and the conservation work carried out by people who shoot by experts from the UK's largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).

Staff from North Wales Police and Dyfed-Powys Police spent half-a-day at BASC's head office in North Wales for the first in a proposed series of bespoke training courses BASC is able to offer police forces.

Those attending were given an overview of different types of firearms, different types of shooting sports, gamekeeping, biodiversity and legislation that affects shooting sports and conservation.

Simon Vann, one of BASC's firearms officers, said: "This is the first course of its type we have run and it went very, very well.

"All of the officers who attended were very engaged.

"They were very keen to see the links between shooting and conservation.

“We gave them a broad overview of what we do and did a little bit of myth-busting! We are able to offer bespoke training packages to meet forces' needs.”

Mr Vann added: “We have laid a foundation which we fully intend to build on and if any other force has a training need that we can help with, whether it be for rural teams, firearms licensing or operational, please contact the firearms team on FirearmsDept@basc.org.uk or phone 01244 573010."