The new guideline, which comes into force on 1 June 2026, marks an important step forward in deterring hare coursing and ensuring the courts fully recognise the significant harm and intimidation this serious crime poses to farmers and growers across the country.
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt said the new guideline sends “a clear message that this crime will be treated with the seriousness it deserves, and that the courts must consider the full impact on victims and rural communities”.
The NFU submits its response to the Sentencing Council's consultation on a sentencing guideline for hare coursing offences.
NFU Chief Land Management Adviser Sam Durham meets with the Sentencing Council to discuss sentencing guidelines for hare coursing and wildlife offences.
The Bill receives Royal Assent.
The government sets out plans to strengthen powers and penalties available to tackle hare coursing through the PCSC Bill.
The coalition writes a letter to Peers.
The NFU supports Crimestoppers' rural crime campaign with a focus on hare coursing.
NFU Chief Land Management Adviser Sam Durham presents to the Defra hare coursing roundtable hosted by minister Rebecca Pow.
Robert Goodwill MP tables amendments at the committee stage of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in the House of Commons.
During the Queen’s Speech, the government announces legislation changes on hare coursing as part of its Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Following this announcement, the NFU's Chief Land Management Adviser Sam Durham begins fortnightly meetings with the Defra team drafting the legislation.
The NFU provides a briefing to Gordon Henderson MP ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on hare coursing.
The NFU presents at a government roundtable discussion on hare coursing.
The coalition writes to Defra and the Home Office suggesting the government adopt its action plan on hare coursing. Their reply says there are no plans to amend the Game Act.
The NFU establishes a hare coursing coalition alongside the Countryside Alliance and the CLA.
A hare coursing roundtable is hosted by NFU Sugar Board chair Michael Sly in Cambridgeshire.
The NPCC Rural Affairs Strategy is launched to increase the level of awareness of poaching and hare coursing as serious wildlife crimes and build better trust and relationships between law enforcement agencies and local communities.
Hare coursing legal guidance is produced by the CPS as a direct result of the NFU’s hare coursing summit.
The NFU is the sole farming organisation at the Rural Crime All Party Parliamentary Group, briefing the current Home Office and Ministry of Justice ministers.
NPCC rural crime lead, Craig Naylor, and Chair of the National Rural Crime Network, Julia Mulligan, present to NFU Council.
NFU President Minette Batters presents at the Chief Constable's Council on rural crime and hare coursing.
NFU Deputy President Minette Batters writes to Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice David Lidington asking for a review of the sentencing guidelines.
The NFU holds its first hare coursing summit to overcome inconsistencies in hare coursing sentencing across police force and CPS areas. The NFU hare coursing video is also launched.
The Combatting Rural Crime report includes a call for the Sentencing Council to review the range of rural crimes experienced by farming communities to ensure sentencing guidelines reflect the true cost and impact of these crimes.
The NFU’s Combatting Rural Crime Report is launched in the House of Commons.
Then-NFU Deputy President Minette Batters meets Chief Constable Dave Jones, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on rural crime, the first high-level meeting between an NFU officeholder and a national police lead.