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 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.
