Police are joining forces with local farmers and wildlife groups in a new crackdown on poaching on East Riding farmland.

For the first time, police from North, South and West Yorkshire will meet in East Yorkshire to link up on a joint initiative to tackle wildlife crime and poaching.

Seventy five police officers will meet with farm watch groups, wildlife organisations and the RSPCA for a workshop and training day in Driffield next Friday.

The session will see the launch of a proposed Humberside Poaching Policy, as well as the launch of a rural crime campaign, called Shine a Light, by the Deer Society.

Humberside Police wildlife crime officer Sgt David Jenkins said: "It's the first time we have got together to look at wildlife crime and poaching as a cross-border Yorkshire problem.

"There are poachers travelling quite significant distances, from as far afield as the north east and Lancashire.

"We are aiming to be more proactive and effective in helping each other to tackle the problem."

Sgt Jenkins said police are working closely with farm watch groups and wild life organisations.

He said: "We are encouraging farmers to join farm watch groups and we are asking people to report incidents.

"We need people to help us deal with the problem."

Two men were arrested in the latest anti-poaching operation last Sunday.