More collaboration needed to tackle hare coursing – NFU Vice-president
Photograph: Chris Moorhouse
Robyn Munt
NFU Vice-president
The NFU has long-campaigned for government to address the impact of hare coursing at every stage of the criminal justice system. Here, NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt calls for a consistent and coordinated response to show that rural crime is taken seriously.
National Rural Crime Action Week was a crucial opportunity to recognise the very real impact of rural crime on its victims.
Too often, farmers are left looking over their shoulders, anticipating and dreading the next incident. Their businesses are disrupted, and because many farms are also family homes, farmers fear not only for themselves and their employees but for their families too.
This is unacceptable.
“To put a stop to this crime, we must see the police and wider criminal justice system use the powers available to them fully and consistently.”
NFU Vice-president Robyn Munt
Hare coursing continues to plague NFU members, with evidence suggesting that offenders are expanding beyond traditional hotspots into new areas, such as parts of the West Midlands and South Wales.
These dangerous criminals regularly trespass onto farmland, intimidating rural communities, damaging crops and property and harming wildlife, all in the pursuit of illegal bets.
Clear and coordinated response
The NFU has successfully campaigned for legislative change and stronger sentencing guidelines to tackle hare coursing. However, to put a stop to this crime, we must see the police and wider criminal justice system use the powers available to them fully and consistently.
From greater collaboration between police forces to stronger engagement with local community networks, farmers need a clear and coordinated response that will give them confidence that these offences are taken seriously and that those responsible will face meaningful consequences.
