Cambridgeshire Police has record year cracking down on hare coursers
The rural crime team says it's had a record-breaking year.
Last updated 22nd Apr 2021
Cambridgeshire's Rural Crime Team says it responded to 1,196 incidents of hare coursing between April 2020 and March 2021.
It says that's 16% less than the year before and the lowest since 2014/15.
During the last 12 months, the team seized 93 vehicles, issued 138 Community Protection Warnings, issued 17 Community Protection Notices, issued 165 dispersal notices, and seized and rescued 20 dogs.
A further 23 people were also summoned to court.
What is hare coursing?
The force says the hare coursing season usually begins in September when the fields have been harvested and ploughed making them the perfect ground for the illegal blood sport.
Coursers use dogs to chase and kill hares.
Cambridgeshire Police says hare coursing causes damage to crops, harms animal welfare and threatens the rural community.
It added it can result in intimidation and even violence.
Sergeant Craig Flavell, who leads the team, said: "Hare coursing remains one of the biggest crimes to affect our rural communities and the team have worked hard to achieve some exceptional results.
"This year we've seen our biggest reduction in incidents since we reformed in 2016 but we're not complacent and will continue to tackle those offending, drive hare coursing out of the county and bring those responsible to justice.
"We're now focusing on a summer of proactive enforcement and warrants whilst continuing to support other areas of the force."