Report the illegal hare coursers urge police (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Report the illegal hare coursers urge police

8:50am Thursday 4th June 2009 in News By Denise Rigby

POLICE are urging people who may have witnessed hare coursing in the Chelmsford area to report their concerns.

Farmers in rural locations who suspect their land is being used for the illegal practice should get in touch with wildlife officers.

PC Andy Long the wildlife crime co-ordinator for Essex Police said: “Where there are open fields, you will get hare coursing.

“Although it can take place all year round, before the crops grow in the spring and when they have been harvested you will get it more.

“We do get a certain amount of reporting to us but I am often told that farmers do not inform us that they are suffering with hare coursing as they believe we are not interested.

“But we are and this is a chance to let us know the real extent of the problem. The information obtained will help us correctly utilise resources to tackle the problem.

"We have an average of 10-15 reports a month about suspected coursing activity.

“ We would urge anyone who sees people with a vehicle and dogs such as lurchers, acting suspiciously on open land to contact us immediately.".

Essex Police and the Essex Biodiversity Project group have joined forces to produce a special leaflet about coursing to be distributed to farmers, land owners, land managers and others with an interest in rural affairs.

It is called 'Hare Today…Gone Tomorrow. Brown hares and illegal coursing in Essex' and seeks the views of the public about any problems caused by hare coursers. There is a pullout section with a number of questions to be returned to the Essex Police Wildlife Crime Unit.

The local Essex Police wildlife crime officer can be contacted on 0300 333 4444 or by email to wildlife@essex.pnn.police.uk Under the Hunting Act hare coursing is illegal and under the Game Act of 1831 it is a tresspassing offence to go onto land in pursuit of hares.

PC Long said damage can be caused to crops by vehicles going on to the land and there is the possibility of violence if the coursers are confronted.