Farmer blasts ‘shambolic’ police response to poaching
© Supplied by farmer A South Yorkshire farmer has slammed police for their “shambolic” response to a serious hare coursing incident on his farm.
In the early hours of 7 November, the farmer received a phone call from a local, telling him there was a Ford Ranger stuck in a ditch bordering his arable field, near Norton, Doncaster. The car was full of beer bottles.
The farmer called South Yorkshire Police and a police car arrived about 20 minutes later.
See also: What to do if you’re a victim of… hare coursing
One suspected male poacher was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and poaching, but two accomplices fled the scene on foot along with lurcher-type dogs.
The suspect was handcuffed and made to remove his shoes before being put in a police car.
While the officer went to fetch the car keys for the Ranger, the handcuffed suspect got out of the car, assaulted the officer and ran off barefooted.
A police helicopter and search dogs were then sent to the scene, but they could not locate any of the three suspects.
Later the farmer was informed of what had happened by the assaulted officer.
No charges
On Wednesday 8 November, another police officer visited the farmer to interview him for a damage statement.
She told the farmer that the suspect who had assaulted her colleague had handed himself in. He was already summonsed to appear in court for a separate offence.
The police said there was no evidence of alcohol inside the suspect’s system, as he had handed himself in 24 hours after the incident.
And because there was no footage of the driver of the vehicle poaching, the police could not press charges.
The suspects have posted footage of the alleged incident on TikTok, which shows the Ranger in the ditch and them bragging about fleeing the police helicopter.
Other videos on their account show them running down deer and hares with dogs.
The farmer, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It is extremely disappointing how South Yorkshire Police have handled this poaching incident.
“They failed to make an example of this case, when all the evidence stacks up to poaching and drink driving.
“If this had happened in Lincolnshire or Cambridgeshire, the car would have been crushed.
“It feels like South Yorkshire have no regard towards rural crime and don’t take these issues seriously. The police commissioner would not like it if I went and drove around his garden.
“This case has made a mockery of South Yorkshire Police’s recent pledge to tackle rural crime.”
Police response
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: “We understand the impact rural and wildlife crime has on farmers’ livelihoods, animal welfare and those living and working in our rural areas, and we’re committed to putting offenders before the courts for justice.
“This incident will be fully reviewed to identify any lessons to be learned. We continue to work with farmers and rural communities and urge anyone with concerns to get in touch.”