A police officer has stepped down from her role investigating wildlife crime after activists highlighted her links with a Leicestershire hunt.
Pc Sharon Roscoe resigned from the voluntary and part-time post of Leicestershire Police's wildlife officer after threatening posts on social media made her fear for her safety, senior officers said.
A former member of the Belvoir Hunt, she took on the job last year of investigating incidents of illegal hunting, trapping, poaching and badger baiting and other issues of animal welfare.
Anti-hunt campaigners believed Pc Roscoe's association with the Belvoir Hunt was a potential conflict of interest.
They launched a petition calling for her to be removed from the post. It has been signed by more than 6,000 people.
Leicestershire's Deputy Chief Constable Roger Bannister announced Pc Roscoe's decision to resign from the post and concentrate on her normal police duties.
He said senior officers believed Pc Roscoe was "passionate" about wildlife and animal welfare issues and added she was no longer a member of the Belvoir or any other hunt and had not been "for some time".
He added that police officers are free to be members of hunts because their oath of office obliges them to report any illegal activity whether they are on off duty.
However, he said she decided to step down because of the viciousness of some posts on social media and because she feared the issue was damaging the force's reputation.
Mr Bannister said: "Her former connection with hunting coupled with her voluntary role as wildlife officer has attracted much interest and, I regret to say, a significant amount of highly offensive, spiteful, malicious and threatening comments on social networking sites.
"Like all of her colleagues, Pc Roscoe is committed to serving the community without fear or favour and with integrity and impartiality.
"She remains passionate about all matters of the countryside, but she and her family have become increasingly concerned about the personal attacks on her.
"For these reasons she has reached the decision to stand down from this voluntary role.
"I would like to make it clear we respect her decision and that she retains the support of her colleagues and of the vast majority of those who live in the communities she polices."
Anti-hunting organisations condemned any threatening or abusive messages which had been posted online.
However, they welcomed the officer's decision to leave the role.
A spokesman for Leicester Animal Rights, said: "A lot of people felt there was always a perception that there was a potential conflict of interest in the officer having the role.
"We welcome her decision to stand down and believe it's a step in the right direction by Leicestershire Police.
"We believe there is illegal hunting activity taking place and hope Leicestershire Police will take action."
A spokesman for the West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs said: "We believe putting the officer into the post called the police's judgement into question.
"It did not inspire much confidence in the police and many ordinary members of the public felt it was a bizarre situation to have a wildlife officer who had been a member of a hunt."
Leicestershire Police, which is holding meetings with hunts and animal rights groups in order to foster better relations, is currently investigating five alleged assaults – four alleged attacks on hunt saboteurs and one on a hunt supporter.
One allegation is that two supporters of the League Against Cruel Sports were assaulted while monitoring the Belvoir Hunt earlier this month.
Lincolnshire Police is investigating an allegation that a hunt kept a fox in captivity in order to release it to hounds.
Pc Roscoe's decision to leave the post was announced at Leicestershire Police headquarters in Enderby last Thursday at a meeting of the ethics, integrity and complaints committee – a group of independent members of the public.
The body was created by police and crime commissioner Sir Clive Loader to scrutinise aspects of policing in the city and county.
