Island Constabulary Wins National Award for Humane Animal Dispatch Scheme

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has been recognised at a national RSPCA awards ceremony for its innovative Humane Animal Dispatch (HAD) volunteer scheme.

The force received the Innovator for Animal Welfare Award at the RSPCA Pawprints Awards 2025, held at The Met Hotel in Leeds on Thursday 13 November.

The awards celebrate public bodies and partners that go above and beyond to protect animal welfare.

Inspector Stu Ross and Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force Coordinator Hazel Cross were honoured for creating and running the HAD scheme, which sees trained civilian volunteers on call 24/7 to deal with injured deer involved in road collisions across Hampshire.

The Constabulary says the approach ensures injured animals do not suffer unnecessarily and allows responses to be handled as quickly and humanely as possible.

All volunteers are experts in deer management.

Between 2023 and 2024, HAD volunteers were deployed 288 times, compared with 72 firearm officer deployments, saving the force an estimated £108,460.

Inspector Ross said:

“We are very pleased to be recognised nationally by the RSPCA, a key animal welfare partner.

"Our HAD volunteers are phenomenal — they make sure injured animals are dealt with humanely and allow other police resources to focus on frontline priorities.”

The scheme was first introduced more than 15 years ago and was expanded in 2022 into its current format.

It has since been showcased nationally, with other forces now exploring adopting the model.

It also has the support of major animal welfare and industry organisations including the British Deer Society, RSPCA, BARTA and BASC.

The HAD team currently includes 49 volunteers, with hopes to increase that number to 60 by next spring.

Chief Constable Alexis Boon praised the team, saying:

“I am incredibly proud that this groundbreaking scheme has been nationally recognised.

"It eases the suffering of animals and ensures our officers can focus on tackling crime and keeping people safe.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones added:

“The pioneering HAD scheme has proved hugely successful in prioritising animal welfare and freeing up officers, especially in rural areas.

"I’m thrilled it has received the recognition it deserves.”

Anyone interested in becoming a HAD volunteer in Hampshire can contact humaneanimaldispatch@hampshire.police.uk.