FEATURES
ABOUT ANIMALS P
olice wildlife officer Peter Baker certainly isn’t short of motivation when it comes to hunting down individuals who inflict cruelty on animals. Handling badgers, snakes, hedgehogs or even chasing
escaped reindeer from a Santa sleigh, this is all in a day’s work for Peter, who last year became only the sixth cop to be awarded the coveted British Citizen Award Medal of Honour for services to the community. The Southwick-based PC has also received a Special
Recognition Award from the RSPCA in acknowledgement of the positive impact he has made on animal welfare across his region. Dad of two Peter, 40, is the go-to person locally for tip-offs
from police colleagues and members of the public who pass on information on animal cruelty. He said: “Friends, fellow cops, and members of the public
are just brilliant at letting me know when they spot something disturbing on social media or elsewhere. I’ve also had fantastic support from Northumbria Police Chief Constable Winton Keenen. “They know I’ll personally give it everything to track down
anyone who threatens the welfare of animals. My love of animals dates back to my own pets - Jasper the rabbit, two stick insects called Dennis and Menace, and a dog called Kelly. Peter, a neighbourhood beat manager in Wearside in his 19th
year of service, has often had to use his considerable sleuthing abilities to track down tip-offs. But thanks to his reputation in the local community, he isn’t short of support when it comes to identifying culprits. Currently recuperating from a vicious assault, he has been
a wildlife crime officer for five years and shoehorns this role in between his duties as a community beat officer. He added: “The tip-offs come from all over because people
really care, and then I often work in partnership with the RSPCA when there is a prosecution element. It really is my dream job to be a wildlife officer and to have the task of pursuing anyone who
PC PETER IS SO WILD
threatens the welfare of animals. I’ve always been a huge animal lover and really need no motivation to seek convictions against pet owners who have neglected, mistreated or abused animals.
“It’s certainly true about us being an animal loving nation. One recent tip came from a member of the public who saw an online video which featured a dog mistreating a fox. I managed to find the individual who posted it, got a warrant and then found incriminating photos on a phone.
“Another joint operation with the RSPCA yielded an
incredible 107 dogs – mainly Chihuahuas – in one house. They were being kept in terrible conditions and the culprit was rightly jailed.
“I’ve also handled incidents involving snakes, hedgehogs, gulls, badgers and hedgehogs since I started. I even helped prevent a redevelopment company from building housing because of nesting birds.” Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness has paid tribute to the dedicated officer. She said: “I am so made up for Peter – he’s such a stand-out
character and, I know it’s a cliché but, he really does go above and beyond. He’s a credit to Northumbria Police.”
29 I POLICE I JUNE 2021
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