NFU calls for action over hare coursing

As the National Farmers Union (NFU) presses the government to take urgent action to give police more powers of arrest for hare coursing, one local wildlife officer said he'd welcome the chance to be able to clampdown more on offenders.

The coursing laws are 200 years old and give police no powers of arrest. Instead officers police the issue using trespass and criminal damage laws.

But PC John Snellin, wildlife officer for Dorset Police, told the Echo that coursing has been happening regularly north of Poole in broad daylight as well as at night and he's keen for more powers to deal with offenders.

"We do have hare coursing going on on a fairly regular basis by the travelling fraternity. It happens a lot in the Cranborne area.

"At this time of year it is quite easy for them to see the hares in the field because the crops are short. It's similar in September when they've been harvested.

"They pull into a field in a vehicle, get the dogs out and just let them loose. Sometimes very large sums of money are bet on which dog will get the hare first. The hares are just ripped to bits.

"Coursers generally show total disregard for the crops they trample and the fences and gates that stand in their way - they'll do all they can to get away from the police and landowners."It's been happening almost every Sunday afternoon in certain areas of Dorset. A month ago it was a major headache.

"Legislation ties our hands and I'd welcome any change that would make it easier to do our jobs."

Together with local landowners police have been running a series of operations to catch offenders and bring them to justice, but because the coursing itself is not illegal those that have been dealt with through the courts have faced charges of trespass instead.

A survey by the NFU reveals illegal hare coursing (without the consent of landowners) is increasing and there's a growing sense of frustration by farmers. They're calling for new laws to protect them.

First published: May 25