Huntingdonshire NFU leads calls for hare coursing sentencing review

A farmer leading the national fight against hare coursing believes a new consultation on court sentencing guidelines could make a significant difference in tackling the crime.

Following long-term lobbying from the National Farmers' Union (NFU), the Sentencing Council has launched a consultation on the guidelines for courts when dealing with hare coursing offences.

The crime, which involves criminals using dogs to chase hares over farmland for large bets, causes thousands of pounds in damage and poses serious concerns for farmers’ safety and mental well-being.

NFU Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire Chair Freya Morgan recently spoke at the Operation Galileo Hare Coursing Enforcers Conference, where she highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by farmers despite progress made with new legislation introduced in 2022.

“There has been some good progress, but more needs to be done,” Ms Morgan said. “We need to see more arrests and more convictions. This consultation is a positive step forward and could make a real impact.”

Ms Morgan, who grows arable crops on the border between Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, said: "I think one of the issues is that we've got the A14 that runs across the top, we've got the A1, the M1, and it's very easily accessible from lots of different areas.

"And we have a lot of small internal roads that they can get away if they are being pursued."

The impact of hare coursing extends beyond legal concerns, affecting farmers' livelihoods and sense of security.

"You work where you live, and you just don't feel safe anymore," Ms Morgan said. "You're fearful of your children maybe going out, playing, in case they came across a hare coursing incident going on."

"It's just not a nice way to live. You just feel threatened, violated. And these people can be quite intimidating to you as well."

The damage to farmland is also significant, as Ms Morgan detailed: "Once they've driven across the fields, you actually see evidence where they've been until the next growing season.

"So you have a constant reminder that they've driven across. It's very difficult to put a value on the damage to the crops, but where they've driven, you actually do have crop loss.

"And then there's also in certain areas where they grow high-value crops like potatoes and onions, the cost of that is higher, and also they will damage irrigation pipes driving across the fields, which then have to be replaced at the cost of the farmer."

Ms Morgan has invested heavily in security measures, including lockable gates, an electric entrance gate, and ditches to limit vehicle access.

Beyond the financial and logistical challenges, Morgan highlighted the emotional toll.

She said: "You can be driving down the road and then just see someone's driven across your fields or damage the gateways, and you just get that sinking feeling.

"It's your property, your land, and somebody has just come in and violated your privacy. And you know they will be back again."

Police efforts have made some impact, particularly through the introduction of new legislation in 2022, backed by local MP Richard Fuller, which gave law enforcement greater powers to tackle hare coursing.

However, Ms Morgan said that magistrates need a better understanding of the wider impact of hare coursing when cases come to court.

The NFU has worked with the Sentencing Council to develop updated guidelines, replacing outdated laws dating back to the 19th century.

The Sentencing Council’s consultation is now open and runs until April 4, aiming to ensure a consistent approach across the justice system.

The NFU is encouraging its members and the public to participate in the consultation, ensuring farmers’ concerns are heard.

You can find the public consultation here, while the NFU specific consultation can be found by clicking this link.