The following advice page is provided by the
Country Land & Business Association (Eastern Region)
ILLEGAL HARE COURSING
Helping the Police to help you
Hare coursing is legal provided it is conducted on land with the owner's permission and is not conducted on Sundays or Christmas Day. Where it takes places without the consent of the landowner it is poaching.
Whilst some offenders treat illegal hare coursing as a form of recreation, other highly specialised gangs of sometimes violent criminals use illegal hare coursing as a means of gambling. The potential for profits are huge and these criminals are prepared to go to extreme lengths to maintain, what is for them a lucrative business. They are a close-knit, tight-lipped community. The Police cannot act against them without your help and co-operation.
However, your safety and that of your family and employees is the primary concern of the police
Police Powers
There are several problems in dealing with these offenders. The Police can only arrest people for poaching if they fail to leave the land when told to by a Police Officer or if they give a false name or address. There is no recent legislation that helps in this area. The Police can and will arrest for other offences such as criminal damage or the threat or use of violence, provided they have reasonable grounds for suspicion that the poachers have committed such offences.
So what are the difficulties?
Before they can arrest or otherwise deal with trespassers the Police need evidence that they are poaching or committing crimes of criminal damage or violence.
To prove any of these offences the Police must show, beyond all reasonable doubt, that the person accused committed the offence. Effectively the Police must either 'catch them red-handed' or obtain clear evidence that the suspect has been illegally engaged in coursing, gambling on coursing or committing acts of criminal damage or violence. Trespass alone, even with dogs, is not enough. If there is any reasonable explanation for a person's conduct they will be given the benefit of the doubt at Court and will not be convicted. It would be possible for a courser to escape conviction by claiming the dog escaped control and chased a hare.
Then there are practical difficulties. East Anglia is a vast area. The Police have to find out what is going on. They then have to respond in sufficient strength to deal with the problem. To keep a large number of officers on standby in case of coursing through the whole county is impractical.
So what is being done?
Police forces in East Anglia have formed a Regional Hare Coursing Group to provide a co-ordinated regional response to hare coursing. There is a central unit dedicated to collecting information about illegal hare coursers which can be used to trace their movements and illegal activities, arrest and prosecute them. Where appropriate, specially targeted patrols will be employed with designated resources to provide a number of tactical options including air support. Good intelligence will be the key to their success the Police aim to make life so difficult for illegal hare coursers they give up and go away.
So how can you help?
You can make access to your land more difficult so that coursers are delayed in either entering your land or leaving it. Lock gates, make approaches difficult, ensure footpaths can only be used by pedestrians. This will be of help when Police have been called and the offenders are trying to escape.
Signs deterring hare coursers are effective, however be aware that the RSPCA advise that the use of dog wires may render the land owner liable to prosecution or civil action if the doges are injured as a result - even if they are trespassing on your land.
Confirm to your local Police Officer that you do not allow any coursers on your land. If you do, tell the coursers to notify the local station when they are going coursing - it will prevent an unnecessary false alarm.
The one thing the Police do not need is to rescue 'have a go heroes' from dangerous situations. Do not put yourself at risk. Even if you do successfully confront coursers they may come back to exact revenge. Do not approach them. In particular, do not carry or use firearms when dealing with illegal hare coursers.
Contact your neighbours, organise a liaison group so you can all be alerted when there is a problem. Have a list of contact numbers, one of you can telephone the Police while another gets evidence.
Get a good description of the people (numbers, hair colour, clothing, etc) and their vehicles (colour, make, registration number). Describe what they are doing. It is best if you record the description while you are looking at them, or as soon as possible afterwards. Record exactly what they look like and what they are doing. If you have a camcorder or camera take photos. It is particularly valuable if you get pictures of the poachers setting their dogs on hares or money changing hands. Think of using binoculars, Dictaphones, mobile phones or CB. Do not expose yourself to risk while taking photos, etc. Remember stay safe - observe from a distance.
Whenever you suspect that illegal coursing is taking place on your land contact the Police. Tell them as much detail as possible including descriptions and vehicle details. Illegal hare coursers are extremely mobile, remember to pass on their exact location and which way you think they are heading. Give a map reference or local landmark.
Arrange to meet officers at a specific spot. If there are terrain difficulties and you have a four-wheel drive, bring it with you.
If you cannot avoid a meeting with the coursers, stay calm. Do not be provoked or retaliate. Do not accept money 'in compensation'. That will cloud the evidence in Court.
Last of all, stay patient. This is a highly specialised crime, very difficult to prove and often committed criminals who 'know the system'. The Police have to approach the problem systematically and carefully within the restraints of their available resources and the powers given to them by law.
REMEMBER YOUR SAFETY AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILY MUST COME FIRST..The Police cannot succeed without your help
Upholding the law is the responsibility of every citizen, not just the Police. You should be prepared to make a statement to the Police and attend Court if necessary.
POLICE CONTACT NUMBERS:
In an emergency, or if you are being or feel threatened, always dial
999Bedfordshire
01234 841212Cambridgeshire 01480 456111
Essex 01245 491491
Hertfordshire 01707 354200
Lincolnshire 01522 532222
Norfolk 01953424242
Northants 01604700700
Suffolk 01473 613500
For further help and advice contact
Aspen Grove Farm, Assington Green, Stansfield, Sudbury Suffolk CO10 8LY 01284 789201 email info.eastern@cla.or.uk
