New measures to combat hare coursing in Lincolnshire now in force
New legislation has passed that offers tougher sentencing to tackle the practice of chasing hares with dogs
There's good news for farmers across Lincolnshire, now criminals caught hare coursing on their land could be sent to prison for up to six months.
Tough new measures to tackle the cruel practice of hare coursing came into effect at the start of the week (1 August 2022).
Anyone caught hare coursing will now face an unlimited fine, and up to six months in prison.
The act of hare coursing  is  an illegal activity where dogs are used to chase, catch and kill hares .
It's a serious problem in some rural areas, including Lincolnshire. Not only does it involve cruelty to wild animals, it is also associated with a range of other criminal activities, including theft, criminal damage, violence and intimidation.
The national lead for hare coursing, Chief Inspector Phil Vickers of Lincolnshire Police tells us the impact offenders can have on farmers:
"They damage the crops, they damage the fences and hedgerows and they cause a significant damage in terms of the value, and where they're challenged by farmers they will seek to intimidate and threaten them.
We've had farmers that have been assaulted by hare coursers as well, so we will do everything we can to prevent it from happening."
The number of Browns hares across the UK have decreased and are now estimated to be at less than half a million in England. They are most commonly found on arable land and open grassland, but face a range of threats, including poaching and habitat loss.
The Head of Wildlife with the RSPCA, Adam Grogan says:
"We're pleased to see the legislation to crackdown on hare coursing has now come into force. It's a barbaric bloodsport that sees hare cruelly chased, caught and killed by dogs. It's high time hare coursing was consigned to the history books where it belongs.
"Hare coursing gangs inflict fear and suffering on their targets - the hare - but our rescue teams have also seen many dogs, used for coursing, coming into our care having been injured during the sport or abandoned when their owners no longer have use for them. This new legislation will give police and the courts more powers to end this cruel practice and the suffering it causes."
The new measures strengthen law enforcement for hare coursing by increasing the maximum penalties for convictions under existing legislation, introducing new criminal offences and new powers for the courts to disqualify convicted offenders from owning or keeping dogs.
They include:
Increasing the maximum penalty for trespassing in pursuit of game under the Game Acts (the Game Act 1831 and the Night Poaching Act 1828) to an unlimited fine and introducing the possibility of up to six months' imprisonment.
Two new criminal offences: trespass with the intention of using a dog to search for or pursue a hare; and being equipped to trespass with the intention of using a dog to search for or pursue a hare. Both are punishable on conviction by an unlimited fine and/or up to six months' imprisonment.
New powers for the courts to order, on conviction, the reimbursement of costs incurred by the police in kennelling dogs seized in connection with a hare coursing-related offence.
New powers for the courts to make an order, on conviction, disqualifying an offender from owning or keeping a dog.
This is a part of the Government's wider commitment to improving animal welfare and supporting the work of the police in protecting rural communities.
The Environment Secretary, George Eustice has said:
"Hares are an iconic and much-loved species. These tough measures will clamp down on the scourge of hare coursing, which blights rural communities up and down the country, and support the excellent work which the police are doing to tackle these often persistent offenders."