Who to call and when?
Urgent: If a crime is in progress dial 999.
Non-urgent: Dial 101 to report a crime after it has taken place.
Provide information: Contact Crimestoppers to give information anonymously. Submit information via Crimestoppers' online form or call them on 0800 555 1111.
The NFU has long been leading the fight against hare coursing on our members' behalf. Even though there have been changes to the law to give police more powers to deal with hare coursers, there are still things you can do to try and prevent this criminal activity taking place on your land.
Steps you can take to prevent hare coursing on your land
- Consider methods of restricting access to your land, such as blockades in entrance ways, strategic ditch digging and padlocking gates.
- Ensure that you consult your local rights of way access officer for guidance where public access may be affected. Also check that any ditches or other obstacles do not affect your cross-compliance requirements.
- Always report incidences no matter how minor so that the police have an accurate reflection of the extent of the issue.
Protect your land
Stopping criminals getting on to your land and property may be an obvious approach.
Some methods put into practice include:
- Digging ditches or earth bunds around the perimeter of a field or compound.
- Barriers in front of access points, such as logs, old machinery and even reinforced gates.
- Specialist barriers.
However, you should think carefully before constructing or installing such security measures.
Remember to consider:
- Land management and environmental designations and conservation status.
- Environmental considerations eg, Environment Agency permissions.
- Local planning policy.
What to do if you have issues with hare coursing on your land:
- If it is a ‘live’ incident always dial 999, otherwise dial 101.
- Find out if you have a dedicated rural crime officer with a direct contact number.
- Make sure you clearly state ‘hare coursing’ to ensure that the incident is recorded correctly.
- Have field grid references ready – these will ensure police can locate you quickly. Find out how what3words can provide accurate locations for use in these situations.
- If possible, provide a description of the person including notable features, and also descriptions of any vehicles including number plates and any distinguishing features.
- Be discreet when collecting evidence. Approaching hare coursers while holding a camera may be inflammatory. If you use a dashcam you may want to pass any footage to the police as evidence. Remember safeguarding advice and to only gather mobile or photographic evidence if safe to do so.
- Ensure that you receive and make note of your crime reference number.
- Join your local countryside watch if available to gain forewarning of coursers in the area.
- Please report every incident as this information is key to allowing police forces to understand the problem and to allocate the necessary resources where and when they are needed.
- Consider motion activated or night vision cameras in hot spot areas to capture vehicle registrations, this will allow police forces to pursue the vehicles being used. A car registration can be very helpful to police, helping them to disrupt criminals and gather intelligence.
Poaching
We work with BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation) on poaching issues, and BASC offers useful advice on what to do if you have poachers on your land:
- If you see or are aware of poachers on your land and want them off, call the police.
- Call 999 if a crime is in progress or 101 to report a crime after it has taken place.
- Give the call taker as much information as you have, such as vehicles used, how many offenders, and if they have firearms.
- Give as good a location as you can, especially at night.
- The most important thing is to get an incident or log number for what you are reporting.
- You might be told that there is nobody to send immediately, but insist on the incident/log number.
- Ask for the incident to be forwarded to the wildlife crime officer and the local beat officer.
