Helping farmers deal with hare coursing

Hare coursing across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has started earlier than usual this summer, due to an early harvest on the fields and farmland.

The Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force, introduced in May by Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, have seen reports of coursing incidents begin in June, with the illegal activity expected to continue through to March next year. There were 300 reported hare coursing incidents in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from April 2023 to March 2024, while from August 2024 to April 2025 there were 228.

Hare coursing is a devastating crime, not only for the wildlife, but also for the damage caused to fields, crops, property along with violence and intimidation aimed towards farmers and landowners. Organised criminal gangs are often behind this, operating across county borders.

With more than 75% of the two counties made up by countryside, the area provides a perfect location for illegal activities such as hare coursing to take place. Large open fields, left bare after the crops are cut, are prime locations for these offences, which usually peak in the autumn.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, has made rural crime one of her top priorities for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, and is determined to join forces with farmers, landowners and the rural community in tackling these types of incidents: “We need to take the fight to the criminals and the organised crime gangs that are working across the beautiful countryside in our two counties.

“Their activities, such as hare coursing, theft of machinery and poaching are leaving these farmers and landowners as well as their businesses suffering, but through the Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force I am determined that we can help our rural communities feel more safe and secure.

“There is a strong link between hare coursing events and other crimes such as burglary to farm buildings and outhouses – often targeting farm machinery.”

The new Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force is an expansion of the Country Watch team at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, working proactively with rural communities.

Inspector Cath MacDonald who leads the Task Force, said: “We are fully aware of the impact that hare coursing has within our rural communities. We have the resources to disrupt these illegal events, prosecute those responsible and provide reassurance to those who are suffering harm from the impact of hare coursing.

“I would ask for people within our rural communities to support us, by reporting ALL incidents of hare coursing to the police. By doing this, you will be helping us to form an accurate picture of what is happening and where.”

Donna Jones added: “Rural communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight told me repeatedly that they felt overlooked, exposed, and vulnerable to criminal gangs.

“This Task Force provides targeted operations, regular patrols, and faster responses to countryside crime and the serious cross-border, international criminality that is hitting farmers and landowners hard.”

Setting sighthounds on hares to enable betting on the outcome of how many times the dog can turn or ‘course’ the hare, along with kills, has been an illegal activity since the introduction of the Hunting Act 2004.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 also provides legal standing against trespassing on land with intent to hunt a hare with a dog, and to have possession of an article to hunt a hare with a dog.

There are multiple offences related to hare coursing, including attending an event, entering a dog into an event, and participating in an event.

What to do if you spot suspected Hare Coursing activity?

• Hare Coursing in action requires a 999 call, if not currently underway then use 101, contact your Local Bobby (details can be found on www.hampshirealert.co.uk ) or you can report incidents anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
• Are the suspects alone or in a group?
• Are they trespassing?
• Do they have dogs and/or firearms with them?
• Do they have vehicles/equipment on the land with them?
• What type of dogs are they?
• What do the suspects and the dogs look like?
• Where are they now/heading towards? (What3Words is really helpful for rural locations)
• Number plates and types/colours of vehicles?
• Have they caused any damage or confronted landowner?
• Name of landowner?