Hare coursing ‘sting’ shows need to report rural crime
The successful prosecution of a gang of illegal hare coursers following a sting operation should act as a reminder to farmers to report serious crime as it is happening, say rural police.
Neighbouring farmers in the Candovers near Basingstoke, Hampshire, witnessed a grey Honda 4×4 vehicle driving across sown crop fields late at night.
The quick-thinking landowners made several calls to their local rural beat officer, PC Andrew Reid, while the poaching incident was taking place.
See also: Why farmers want stronger action on hare coursing
PC Reid happened to be patrolling the area at the time and the farmers mobilised their machinery to cut off any escape routes.
As a result, they kept a watch on the Honda, which became stuck in a muddy field and the occupants decamped and hid.
© Hampshire Police
Additional police cars and a police helicopter were deployed. Working together, police and local farmers managed to flush out the offenders.
Four men were arrested in Gunners Lane, near Brown Candover, as they broke cover while officers in the helicopter used thermal imaging equipment to monitor their movements.
All four men from the Surrey and London areas pleaded guilty to entering land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment and two counts of criminal damage to crops when they appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates Court. The four were:
- Mark Dean, 22, of Woodstock Lane, Chessington, Surrey
- Dainchy Lee, 23, of Greenlands, Epsom, Surrey
- Philip Smith, 31, of Guildford Road, Normandy, Surrey
- Levi Williams, 23, of Lonesome Caravan Site, London.
In total, the fines with court costs and surcharge totalled £1,195, with £2,308 in compensation.
A court order was also issued in relation to the four lurcher dogs seized by police.
Combat rural crime – How you can help
- If a crime is in progress, dial 999.
- If you want to report a crime, dial 101.
- To report information about a rural crime, use the dedicated Rural Crime Hotline number 0800 7830 137, run by Crimestoppers.
At Winchester Crown Court on 2 December, Mr Dean was handed a three-month suspended prison sentence, 60 hours of unpaid work and £300 costs for being found in possession of a knife when he was arrested during the poaching incident, which happened in January.
‘Excellent result’
Commenting on the case, PC Reid told Farmers Weekly: “This was an excellent result and I wish to highly commend the local people who turned out and helped on that cold January night.
“Without the support of the rural communities, such great results are few and far between, but with a call at the time we ended up with this result.
© MAG/Philip Case
“Above all, it is a conviction that in any future poaching-related incidents can be used as ‘bad character’ of previous behaviour.”
PC Reid said farmers had endured ongoing issues with hare coursers in rural north Hampshire for years.
But it was only over the past five years that coursers had taken to driving over crops to chase deer and hares, whereas previously they would let dogs loose to chase their prey from field boundaries.
Case study: Put more police back on rural beat
More police presence is needed in rural areas to halt the growing crime epidemic in the countryside.
That is the view of a landowner in north Hampshire, whose estate is now being targeted every week by rural crooks.
Hare coursing, quad bike thefts and break-ins of farm outbuildings are the three most common crimes.
“It’s gone from zero to every week. The hare coursers are coming most weekends. It’s constant,” said the landowner, who did not want to be named.
“We’ve tried everything from locks on gates, logs across field entrances, CCTV and lighting. Ditches around fields are no use because they just bring boards in their cars.
“The answer is to have more policing in rural areas. Someone really needs to do something about it.”
The landowner said PC Andy Reid was working very effectively to tackle rural crime in the area, but he needs more support.
The freedom to roam across private land was also being abused by rural criminals, who use public footpaths to “recce” their next target, said the landowner.
“They have no respect for other people’s property. It’s like the Wild West out here.”