Hare coursers run riot, damaging wheat crops

Hundreds of acres of newly sown cereal crops have been damaged by “unscrupulous” poachers, according to police.

Officers in Hampshire and Lincolnshire are investigating separate incidents in which vehicles were driven over growing wheat in fields by rural gangs in search of prey.

Between 4pm on Thursday 10 November and 9am on Saturday 12 November, a growing crop of wheat was damaged in a field in Farleigh Wallop, near Basingstoke, Hampshire.

See also: Focus on the fight against rural crime

PC Andy Reid, area beat commander for Basingstoke Rural South, said those responsible were illegally poaching and looking for hares, game and deer.

“This is a further example of wanton criminal damage being caused by unscrupulous people looking to kill, injure or simply take our wildlife,” he added.

Security in this area has been stepped up following this incident.

Police in Lincolnshire are hunting deer poachers who damaged hundreds of acres of wheat near Morton.

Two 4×4 vehicles were heard roaring across fields in Stainfield at about 3am on Thursday 10 November.

Poachers gained entry to a farmer’s field by cutting chains to gates along quiet back roads.

Police believe the offenders hid in a field off the A15 in Graby before 3am. The same gang is suspected of damaging crops on farm fields to the west of Folkingham.

Flagship farm targeted

Meanwhile, the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT) said it was “saddened” after its flagship farm in Cambridgeshire was targeted by illegal hare coursers.

Trespassers gained access to the farm over the weekend of 11-12 November and caused substantial damage to six fields across Lark Rise Farm, near Cambridge. Five of the fields contained newly sown cereal crops.

The 162ha arable farm specialises in wildlife-friendly farming and uses techniques such as overwintered stubble to encourage ground-nesting birds, invertebrates and small mammals such as hares.

CRT tenant farmer Tim Scott said: “At the CRT we have created a patchwork of wildlife-friendly fields that have become home to a vibrant population of brown hares. These hares have now become the target of vicious hare coursers.”

Anyone with information on any of these crimes is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

See also: Hare coursing – what you need to know if your farm is targeted

However, North Yorkshire Police reports having more success in snaring hare coursers this season. Officers have seized several vehicles from gangs suspected of taking part in illegal poaching activities this month.

On 12 November, rural police located a Land Rover stuck in mud on farmland near Sowerby. The vehicle was seized as it had caused a significant amount of damage to the field. The investigation is ongoing.

© North Yorkshire Police

On 13 November, five men using dogs to chase hares on land near Middleton Tyas were stopped, searched and reported for summons for poaching.

A Subaru Forester was seized. And on 15 November, police seized a VW Passat after speaking to a driver “who is known for rural crime offences”.