Social crime

Historians describe poaching as a social crime because many ordinary people did not share the authorities’ view of it. Villagers might regard taking game as acceptable, particularly when hunting restrictions seemed unfair and prevented customary use of the land. Some were willing to poach themselves; others turned a blind eye rather than helping to expose poachers.

Customers and local communities could benefit from the trade. This made smuggling a social crime: an illegal activity that many people did not regard as seriously wrong. The government disagreed because smuggling deprived it of tax revenue, including money needed to fund wars.