Police have launched a crackdown on illegal hare coursing across the countryside.
West Mercia Police has introduced Operation Snare during National Rural Crime Action Week, focused on tackling this activity that also harms our countryside.
Hare coursing is a serious crime which is often associated with organised criminality. It has a wider impact on rural communities through trespass, damage to land and anti-social behaviour.
The force is working closely with the farming community and organisations such as the National Farmers’ Union and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust to identify and deter offenders.
Billy Keys, inspector at West Mercia Police’s Prevention Hub South, said: "Hare coursing is a cruel and harmful activity that is particularly prevalent post-harvest in our countryside.
"West Mercia Police, working with farmers, rural communities and partners, is targeting those responsible in Operation Snare."
The timing of the operation follows this year’s early harvest, which has left fields more exposed and made it easier for offenders to spot and target wildlife.
Police are urging landowners, farmers, and rural residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
Inspector Keys said: "We are also seeing more reports of organised offenders using off road vehicles to trespass on land, sometimes accompanied by damage to farms and intimidation to farmers.
"In addition to the criminal offences, we will be looking to use powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to seek Criminal Behaviour Orders against offenders and to seize vehicles being driven in an anti-social manner or used to commit hare coursing.
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"We will be increasing patrols at key times and in key locations to achieve this, but the public can also help us by reporting any suspicious activity."
The force is asking the public to report sighting of suspicious vehicles on farmland, groups with sighthounds, or any evidence of criminal damage.
Members of the public are asked to use the 101 non-emergency number or the force’s website to report non-urgent concerns and to call 999 in an emergency.
Inspector Keys said: "Please provide as much information as possible including details of vehicle registrations, vehicle descriptions including make, model, and colour and the number of occupants.
"Information on the number of dogs involved and their breed are useful too, as well as the exact location of any activity, the direction of travel of the criminals.
"Photographs and video footage are useful too but please only take these if it safe to do so."
More details about illegal hunting can be found at https://www.westmercia.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/illegal-hunting/illegal-hunting/.
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