Hare coursing – a timeline
Then-NFU Deputy President Minette Batters meets Chief Constable Dave Jones, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead on rural crime, the first high-level meeting between an NFU officeholder and a national police lead.
The NFU’s Combatting Rural Crime Report is launched in the House of Commons.
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.
NFU President Minette Batters presents at the Chief Constable's Council on rural crime and hare coursing.
NPCC rural crime lead, Craig Naylor, and Chair of the National Rural Crime Network, Julia Mulligan, present to NFU Council.
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.
Hare coursing legal guidance is produced by the CPS as a direct result of the NFU’s Hare Coursing Summit.
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.
A hare coursing roundtable is hosted by NFU Sugar Board chair Michael Sly in Cambridgeshire.
The NFU establishes a hare coursing coalition alongside the Countryside Alliance and the CLA.
Then-Defra Minister Lord Gardiner talks about hare coursing on farm in Dorking.
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 presents at a government roundtable discussion on hare coursing.
The NFU provides a briefing to Gordon Henderson MP ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on hare coursing.
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.
Richard Fuller MP tables the Private Members Bill on hare coursing after ongoing discussion with the coalition.
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.
The NFU supports Crimestoppers' rural crime campaign with a focus on hare coursing.
The Bishop of St Albans tables similar amendments to the PCSC Bill when it moves to the House of Lords.
The coalition writes a letter to Peers.
The government sets out plans to strengthen powers and penalties available to tackle hare coursing through the PCSC Bill.
The House of Lords votes in favour of government amendments and the Bill will go back to the House of Commons before Royal Assent.
The Bill receives Royal Assent.