Crimestoppers
Fearless - Our Youth Service
Essex hare coursing
We've launched a campaign in Essex to raise awareness of the cruel and illegal crime of hare coursing. We also want to encourage members of the public to pass on any information they might have to us at Crimestoppers, safe in the knowledge that they will remain 100% anonymous - always.
Hare coursing is the pursuit of hares with dogs, often for the purposes of betting. It takes place on areas of flat, open land where the dogs can easily and visibly pursue the hare. It's typically carried out by large groups of people who travel long distances.
As well as being extremely cruel to the hares, which are often mauled by the chasing dogs, and sometimes so stressed by the chase that they die of heart failure, it's illegal under the Hunting Act, but it also has other impacts.
For example, fences and gates can be damaged by vehicles forcibly trying to gain access to land. Once in a field, it is common practise to film the chase from a moving vehicle, which can inflict significant damage to the field and any crops within it.
Farmers who challenge hare coursers are often threatened with physical violence to themselves or their families.
GIVE INFORMATION ANONYMOUSLY ON 0800 555 111 OR GO ONLINE HERE
There were 455 reported incidents of hare coursing in Essex last year, an increase of more than 46% on the year before. Any information you give us will be passed on to the police for them to take the appropriate action.Hare coursing is the pursuit of hares with dogs, often for the purposes of betting. It takes place on areas of flat, open land where the dogs can easily and visibly pursue the hare. It's typically carried out by large groups of people who travel long distances.
As well as being extremely cruel to the hares, which are often mauled by the chasing dogs, and sometimes so stressed by the chase that they die of heart failure, it's illegal under the Hunting Act, but it also has other impacts.
For example, fences and gates can be damaged by vehicles forcibly trying to gain access to land. Once in a field, it is common practise to film the chase from a moving vehicle, which can inflict significant damage to the field and any crops within it.
Farmers who challenge hare coursers are often threatened with physical violence to themselves or their families.
Signs to look out for
- The most obvious sign is groups of vehicles parked in a rural area, perhaps by a gateway to farmland, on a grass verge, on a farm track or bridle path.
- They will usually be estate cars, four-wheel drives or vans. It will be obvious looking inside whether there is evidence of dogs or not.
- They often travel in convoy, with vans at the front and rear containing minders.
- They will often use binoculars to spot hares.
- Coursers will often walk along the edge of a field to frighten a hare into the open.
