A specialist aerial unit was deployed during an evening operation in Oxfordshire that concluded with four people being detained by officers.

The operation unfolded in Watlington on Thursday, 17 April, after Thames Valley Police received reports concerning illegal hunting activity.

All four individuals were initially apprehended but have since been released following the completion of out-of-court settlements.

According to a spokesperson for Thames Valley Police, the force’s Rural Crime Taskforce responded to reports of unlawful poaching in the Watlington area during the evening hours.

With assistance from a police helicopter, officers located and detained four individuals.

The detained persons admitted to being present at the location with the intention of tracking wildlife without having obtained permission from the landowner.

Following consultation with the property owner, each individual received an out-of-court settlement for the offense of trespass.

An out-of-court settlement serves as a method for dealing with particular offences committed by individuals who have little or no previous relevant criminal record, making formal court proceedings unnecessary.

Should they be encountered engaging in similar activity again, they would be arrested and processed through the court system.