Hare coursing drops by nearly a third across the East of England
Police forces from across the region have been working together to crack down on the illegal activity
Last updated 19th Apr 2022
Hare coursing across the East of England has fallen by a third thanks to a new 'borderless' approach by police forces in our region.
Seven police forces, including Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, have been working together to tackle the rural crime.
They say the 'borderless' policing scheme meant Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Kent, saw cases call from 2,044 in 2020/1 to 1,415 in 2021/2.
Tactics used by the forces made catching and prosecuting offenders easier, thanks to support from the Crown Prosecution Service, allowing the police to 'become one' when enforcing certain powers across the region.
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), the seizure of dogs, and the sharing of all interactions and movements of people suspected to be involved in hare coursing supports the ongoing national initiative against hare coursing - Operation Galileo.
From Essex Police's Rural Engagement Team, Sergeant Paul Brady says: “We know hare coursing and poaching causes a lot of concern to our rural communities.
"The tactics we use against, and the information we share about, suspected hare coursers, combined with the use of community protection warnings, community protection notices and criminal behaviour orders, has seen a 31% reduction in hare coursing incidents across the region."
Norfolk’s rural crime officer, PC Chris Shelley, said: “Hare coursing has a terrible impact on our rural communities: it damages property, threatens people's livelihoods, and subjects people and families to fear and intimidation.
“It’s an issue we take very seriously, and we will take prompt and robust action to prevent this happening in Norfolk and pursue anybody committing this crime.”
Sergeant Brian Calver from Suffolk Rural and Wildlife Team said: “This is a great achievement by all seven forces and the CPS.
"Our collaboration shows how determined we are to tackle the barbaric actions of a few that cause significant physical and mental harm to those in our rural communities.
"We will continue with the collaboration and continue to work together to further reduce illegal coursing, lamping and poaching.”
Sally Robinson, a District Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, said: “Those who commit hare coursing have historically exploited the borders of neighbouring forces to continue their illegal activities, causing the extreme suffering and unlawful killing of hares, whilst also having a harmful effect on our rural communities.
“By using the legal expertise of the CPS and the operational knowledge of seven police forces in an innovative and collaborative way to effectively remove those borders, we have collectively built stronger cases for prosecution and made it harder for the perpetrators to offend in the future.
“The CPS takes wildlife crime seriously and we will continue to work closely with the police and other partners to bring offenders to justice whenever our legal test is met.”
What is hare coursing?
Traditionally, activity surrounding the illegal blood sport starts in September when the fields have been harvested and ploughed.
Hare coursing is the use of dogs, often breeds like greyhounds or sighthounds, which chase the hare by sight not scent.
It can cause damage to crops, harms animal welfare and threatens the rural community. It can result in intimidation and even violence.
It's been illegal in the UK since 2004.
How can it be prevented?
Landowners are urged to consider blocking entrances to their fields with ditches, fencing or trees or even barriers like barrels filled with concrete.
Anyone who sees hare coursing taking place is asked to contact police immediately on 999 and provide officers with a description of the people involved, any registration numbers, vehicle descriptions and the location and direction of travel.
It's important people don’t confront hare coursers or put themselves at risk.
Anyone with information about hare coursing which is not actually happening currently should call 101.
You can also get in touch on your force's website.