We have consistently lobbied government to highlight the impact of hare coursing on farming families and their businesses and to get stronger legal protections in place.
As a result of this lobbying work, the Sentecing Council published a new guideline for courts when dealing with hare coursing offences to help ensure a consistent approach.
The guidance covered four offences associated with the crime, including two introduced under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 – trespass with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs, and being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs.
NFU work helped ensure these were included in the Act, alongside unlimited fines and the option of a custodial sentence of up to six months for another hare coursing offence, trespass in the pursuit of game.
