Pc Tony Hales and Pc Paul Carter are part of the Rural Community Action Team in Cambridgeshire – one of only three such teams around the country.

Offences involving the theft of rare and protected wild plants are now taken so seriously that offenders can face fines of up to £5,000 or six-months imprisonment.

The officers' job is to police such incidents and bring the rogues to book.

Thorney, for example, is notorious for hare-coursing, carried out by people illegally using other people's land.

Policing it, until recently, was a major effort.

But following a crackdown by the rural policing team, in conjunction with Countryside Watch, the county has seen a 97 per cent reduction in the activity.

Many successful prosecutions have been brought and, in February, four people were found guilty of hare coursing in Cambridgeshire and fined a total of £1,500, along with driving bans.

For the two police officers there is no average day. Typically they could be attending calls from landowners about their land being used illegally for hare-coursing, hedgerows being cut during nesting periods, deliberate posioning of animals, or badgers' setts being interfered with for baiting.

Born and bred on a farm, the life of a wildlife police officer was in the blood for Pc Hales who recently transferred to the rural squad.

When a vacancy came up he knew his expertise and knowledge of countryside life had found a home.

And while the images of Ace Ventura Pet Detective are hard to dispel he admits the role of the wildlife officer is a far more serious one.

He said: "Farmers and country folk are often the forgotten people and have not had the service from the police, as often resources are population targeted. We have been out working with the rural community building up relationships and maintaining visibility and letting people know they can call us if there is a problem.

"The job has certainly opened my eyes, I was surprised how many people are passionate about wildlife in the county. A lot of people do not understand the countryside law. For instance disturbing birds nests. We had a call recently where people had taken away the baby ducklings from the village pond, you can't take them home they are wild birds."

The team work in conjunction with the RSPB and RSPCA when dealing with wildlife crime.

That by no means lets them off the hook where everyday crime is concerned. In instances where it's all hands to the pump, the officers have to put on their other hat and join their colleagues in the city centre or nearby towns and villages.

n The Rural Community Action Team can be e-mailed at rcat@cambs.pnn.police.uk or called on 01480 422700.