Police say they are working hard to prevent and tackle hare coursing in Lincolnshire
This illegal practice usually takes place from September until the spring
Police say they are working hard to prevent and tackle hare coursing in Lincolnshire.
This illegal practice usually takes place from September until the spring.
Lincolnshire Police said that over 250 incidents were reported in the 23/24 season with 13 arrests made.
The Police have launched 'Operation Galileo' and will be led by the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT).
The Specialist Operations Department also includes officers from Armed Policing, Roads Policing, the Dog Section and the Tactical Support Team.
They will use marked and unmarked cars, vans, drones, off-road vehicles, and motorbikes to target criminals who commit crimes in rural Lincolnshire areas.
Since new legislation, that gives police the power to arrest hare coursers going equipped, was introduced in August 2022, reported incidents across the county have decreased.
Historically, officers could only arrest if there was evidence of active hare coursing in progress, now police can search out those who choose to set their dogs running to kill hares.
Chris Davies, who works in Lincolnshire Police Rural Crime Action Team, said:
“It’s a really barbaric sport.”
“Criminals are going onto farmland and offences occur.
“This will be people going onto fields, they’ll be using hounds and you’ll see them going across the field after hares.
“I say to the rural community, if you see hare coursing, please let us know and we will get these people stopped.
“The majority of people that carry out this hare coursing are from outside Lincolnshire.
“A lot of money exchanges hands in gambling over hare coursing.”