Category: Lob In The Landscape

Monday 17th October 2022

Avon And Somerset Police have posted:

The laws around hare coursing have changed. To help you understand what is new and what to look out for when reporting the crime, we sat down with the Rural Affairs Unit’s PCSO Mike Storey to find out more about the law change.

So Mike, what is hare coursing exactly?
Hare coursing is an illegal activity where dogs are used to chase, catch and kill hares. This is a serious problem in rural areas.

Hare coursing is primarily a seasonal issue affecting rural communities across our force area. It is most common from late summer when the crops are cut through to spring when crops are grown enough to provide hares with sufficient cover.

What is the difference between hare coursing and hunting?
Hare coursing is the specific act of chasing hares as part of an organised betting event, while hunting is the act of a person, or group of people, hunting a wild mammal with two or more dogs.

Why is it illegal?
Hare coursing was banned in 2004, but the underground scene is thriving. Not only does hare coursing involve cruelty to wild animals, but it is also linked to other criminality such as theft, criminal damage, violence, and intimidation. It can also cause significant disturbance in the countryside and is a constant cause for concern among landowners, farmers, and rural communities.

What are the main changes to the new hare coursing law?
The main change is the sentencing and the financial penalties that the courts can impose on offenders.

If I see someone committing the crime, what should I do?
We urge members of the public to report any incidents of course and poaching. If the crime is ongoing, call 999. If you are suspicious of an individual who you believe may be linked to hare coursing, or the crime is not ongoing, please call 101 or report through our online form on our website.

You can also pass on important intelligence anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

This will then be picked up by our Rural Affairs Unit to handle enquiries and, hopefully, bring offenders to justice.

What else can I do?
Do not approach those taking part in the activity. Instead, please try to obtain as much of the information as possible, including:

• Location – consider using What3Words to provide officers with a specific location.
• Vehicles involved – what colour or type of vehicles can you see related to the crime? Are there any significant features like branding, licence plate or any dents.
• People involved – take down descriptions or, if safe to do so, take some photos or video of the suspects.
• Dogs or weapons involved – take descriptions of these too, including the bread of the dog and any names you may hear.

Any photos or video evidence can also be helpful to our investigation but please do not put yourself at risk.

Monday 1 August 2022

Gov.uk have published the following press release from: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Home Office, and The Rt Hon George Eustice MP

Tougher sentencing and improved powers introduced under the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 to tackle the cruel practice of chasing hares with dogs.

Tough new measures to tackle the cruel practice of hare coursing come into force today (1 August 2022). Anyone caught hare coursing will now face an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.

Hare coursing – an illegal activity where dogs are used to chase, catch and kill hares – is a serious problem in some rural areas. 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.

Brown hares are widespread across the UK but numbers are declining and are now estimated at less than half a million in England. An iconic sight in the British countryside, they are known for their long, black-tipped ears and fast running – reaching speeds of 45mph – and are most commonly found on arable land and open grassland. Brown hares face a range of threats, including poaching and habitat loss.

These 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.

Environment Secretary George Eustice 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.

Chief Inspector Phil Vickers said:

Police colleagues have long been frustrated that hare coursing legislation did not adequately reflect the suffering of human and animals. These new powers will better equip police forces to prevent cruelty and offending, targeting those who cause the greatest harm to our rural communities and wildlife.

These changes have been made possible through collaboration with rural police forces, the Crown Prosecution Service and government. I am grateful for the support we have received in getting to this point.

RSPCA Head of Wildlife Adam Grogan said:

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.

This is part of Government’s wider commitment both to improving animal welfare and to supporting the work of the police in protecting our rural communities.

Monday 10th January 2022

Wiltshire PCC Philip Wilkinson has welcomed new powers being given to Police to tackle hare coursers – And warned criminal gangs: “Wiltshire isn’t the easy option for your vile activities.”

Earlier this month, the Home Office announced new criminal offences, increased sentencing powers for those found guilty of taking part in the illegal activity – something Mr Wilkinson had lobbied for alongside Devizes MP Danny Kruger and Salisbury MP John Glen.

Hare coursing was a key concern raised by Wiltshire’s farmers to the PCC on the doorsteps, and during his police and crime plan consultation and surveys, because their land is trampled, carved up and ruined by coursers.

Mr Wilkinson said: “I’m pleased the government listened – the existing law was no longer fit-for-purpose and it wasn’t providing the police what they needed and wasn’t an efficient deterrent to this type of activity.”

“These new criminal offences, extra powers to seize dogs and ban ownership alongside increased penalties and sentences can only serve to really help in the fight against the scourge of hare coursers.”

And, Mr Wilkinson added, the illegal activity isn’t just restricted to the counties it happens in – organised criminal gangs are using the blood sport to stream on the dark web with people betting on how many hares are caught or which dogs clock up the most kills.

Criminal Gangs
A focus on rural crime is a key priority in Wiltshire’s next police and crime plan, which sets the strategic policing blueprint in the county for the next three years.

“Farmers are telling me they are fed up with it and it’s happening nightly in Wiltshire – especially at this time of year when this type of activity seems to step up a gear,” he said.

“The Chief Constable and I are appalled by this and we are committed to driving this criminal and illegal activity to ground. Just as we are focusing on making Wiltshire a hostile place for drugs gangs and knife crime, Wiltshire will become even more hostile to these criminal gangs.

“But the more sinister part of this is the serious organised crime behind it, streaming it live on the dark web and using this vile and inhumane activity to illicit money from people who appear to be drawn to this blood-thirsty activity.

“We have intelligence which shows hare coursing on Salisbury Plain being streamed as far afield as China – this needs to stop and Wiltshire will no longer stand for this.”

Mr Wilkinson has already pledged a boost to the rural crime team with officers from the government’s uplift programme and he says Wiltshire Police has co-ordinated plans to tackle the criminals who have been plaguing the county’s farmlands.

Operation Galileo
Beating the coursers is already on the agenda for Wiltshire Police. As part of the nationwide Operation Galileo, in which information is shared between forces across the country, Wiltshire Police’s Rural Crime Team is to increase their patrols and work closely with the farming community and other partners to catch hare coursers.

Sergeant Greg  Fergusson said: “We have built close links with our rural communities which has helped us build intelligence around where hare coursers operate and sometimes who they are.”

“Some criminals will travel hundreds of miles to be involved and are often associated with organised crime gangs.”

“What many people don’t realise is that the hare coursing is a means to these gangs generating huge sums of money through live-streaming their activities for illegal gambling around the world. This then funds other criminal activity.”

“And while some may dismiss the impact of hare coursing and offenders consider it to be their “leisure activity’, they are also carrying out hostile reconnaissance identifying vulnerable sheds, barns, hangars and other storage spaces used to store agricultural machinery and tools.”

“We’d urge the public to report all information where they think there is a link to this type of criminality.”

Challenging Task
The focus would also see Wiltshire Police work alongside its partners like the Ministry of Defence Police and Landmarc to tackle the growing problem.

Mr Wilkinson added: “Revealing everything which is coming to these gangs would be churlish but I have to warn them, Wiltshire isn’t an easy option for you. Salisbury Plain and the masses of farmland we have makes it a more challenging task but not one that we will not shy away from here in Wiltshire.”

Sunday 2nd February 2020

Berkshire Hunt Sabs have posted on their Facebook page:

JEREMY CLARKSON HOSTS ILLEGAL HARE HUNT ON “NATIONAL BASSETT HUNTING DAY’

Yesterday Berkshire Hunt Sabs joined up with friends from Bristol Hunt Saboteurs & Severn Vale Hunt Saboteurs to put a stop to the National Basset hunting day, a “hunting festival’ hosted by the Four Shires Bassets and the tv personality Jeremy Clarkson at his home in Chaddlington near Chipping Norton.

Because this hunting festival was being hosted by the famous hunt supporter, over 100 supporters turned up to his home to see hares being killed by bassets hounds. Jeremy is a keen supporter of hare and fox hunts and proudly hosts meets, and allows the hunt on his land.

As usual no trail was seen to be laid so sabs entered the fields to escort the hunt as they stormed back to the meet, looking very pissed off!

Thankfully no hares were killed, only due to the presence of sabs. But there are many other “hunting holidays’ and normal meets which take place in which they will kill upwards of 2-3 hares per day. If you have any intel on hunting festivals or hunting holidays, or indeed any other intel, please do tip us off.

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