The 'barbaric' crime which sees thousands exchanged in illegal bets in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Police is continuing to crack down on a "barbaric" crime which can often see thousands of pounds exchanged in illegal bets. Hare coursing involves criminals going onto fields and spooking hares so they start running before releasing sighthounds to chase after them.
The hounds will often catch up with the hare and kill it, with the hare then being discarded. Offenders will film or live stream their activities for the purpose of illegal betting and thousands of pounds can change hands as people bet on the number of times the hare changes direction.
Hare coursing has become an issue in Lincolnshire due to its large open fields. Inspector Chris Davis of Lincolnshire Police's specialist operations said: "It's a barbaric and horrendous sport. Lots of money is gambled on this illegally. It causes damage to the crops and a large amount of the people doing it, mainly coming from outside the county, are connected to criminal activity.
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"They're coming onto farms and hanging around rural communities. We want to keep these people way from our vulnerable rural communities. Nobody wants a criminal in their back garden."
Since new legislation was introduced in August 2022, Lincolnshire Police has seen a reduction in reported incidents across the county. Historically, officers could only arrest if there was evidence of active hare coursing in progress, which was often very difficult to prove.
Police can now arrest, search and prosecute anyone found going equipped for, in search for, or in pursuit of hares with dogs and an offence to trespass with intent to search for or pursue a hare with dogs. Inspector Davis said anyone who suspects hare coursing should contact the police immediately.
He said: "If anyone suspects hare coursing, which could be people in a 4x4 vehicle in the middle of a field with hounds running around, I would suggest you contact Lincolnshire Police. If you can get details of the vehicle and how many people are involved that would be ideal and we'll do everything we can to get there."
A recent investigation by the Rural Crime Action Team led to three men facing kennelling fees, fines and costs totalling more than £52,000, 10-year Criminal Behaviour Orders, driving bans, the loss of their dogs and the loss of their equipment.
During the last five years, police have seized the following in connection with hare coursing:
126 dogs
A firearm
51 phones
12 cameras/video recorders
11 pairs of binoculars
13 thermal imaging devices
Four knives or weapons