The East's Police unite to tackle Hare Coursing
The services of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex along with four others, are putting their county borders to one side in an effort to root out the illegal sport
Last updated 29th Aug 2021
All seven Police force in the East of England are now working together to tackle hare coursing in the region.
This the first time a cross-county plan has been unveiled to tackle the illegal sport. The new plans means services will work together to pursue and arrest those committing criminal wrong-doing.
Previously, local forces would just share intelligence and information on the matter, but PC Christopher Shelley from Norfolk Police says this approach was "lacking and meant we missed opportunities".
He told us the old approach would mean county forces would move on offenders from their region, only for them to commit the same crime in a neighbouring or nearby county.
PC Shelley has welcomed the regional approach saying its been "effortless" and "brilliant to meet up and share best practices" with other officers. He told this new approach to policing will remain in place permanently if it proves successful.
He went on to tell us that introducing this regional approach to tackle hare-coursing is vitally important, considering how dangerous it can be for the public. PC Shelley says hare-coursers often "drive incredibly dangerous" and regularly "cause huge damage to people's land and property in order to intimidate or avoid arrest".