Hare coursing is a vile and despicable activity which not only involves cruelty to wild animals but is also associated with a range of other criminal activities, including theft, criminal damage, violence and intimidation.
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 introduced measures to strengthen the powers and penalties available to enable law enforcement agencies to crack down on this crime. These powers include increasing the maximum penalty for trespassing in pursuit of game to an unlimited fine and introducing, for the first time, the possibility of up to six months’ imprisonment.
In addition, the measures include two new criminal offences: first, trespassing with the intention of using a dog to search for or pursue a hare; and second, being equipped to trespass with the intention of using a dog to search for or pursue a hare. These are both punishable on conviction by an unlimited fine and/or up to six months’ imprisonment.
Finally, I understand that courts have new powers to, on conviction, disqualify an offender from owning or keeping a dog, as well as order the reimbursement of costs incurred by the police in kennelling dogs seized in connection with a hare coursing-related offence.
