Police helicopter helps rural crime teams catch hare coursers

Seven police forces that joined together to crack down on hare coursing across the east of England last year are now working with the National Police Air Service (NPAS) to respond quicker to rural crime as it happens.

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent police forces have reduced hare coursing incidents by removing the borders between their patches, which has made catching and prosecuting offenders easier.

The forces become one when using certain powers, and this has helped with the use of automatic number plate recognition, the seizure of dogs and sharing intelligence on suspected hare coursers, including their movements and meetings.

See also: Hare coursing drops by a third due to borderless policing success

After a successful first year, the police coalition is expanding its tactics by using an NPAS helicopter and more drones to improve the ability to spot hare coursers in fields.

Rural crime officers from Essex, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk recently met at the Audley End Estate, near Saffron Walden in Essex, to share intelligence and see the helicopter in action.

© Essex Police

Pinpoint suspects

PC Matt Harkness from Essex Police said the aircraft was a valuable addition in the fight against illegal hare coursing.

“During this coursing season, we will be working more closely with NPAS to ensure that rural officers will be in the right place at the right time to catch the bad guys,” he said.

“Hare coursing happens in very rural, isolated areas and the helicopter crew or a drone can pinpoint suspects in fields and woodland, identify escape routes and then follow those responsible.

“Basically, they can direct officers on the ground to intercept the vehicles or people so officers can deal appropriately with any offences.”

Constant threat

Audley End Estate resident agent Tom White said hare coursing was a constant threat to farmers, gamekeepers and estate staff, but the strong police presence was reassuring.

“The sight of all the police officers, their vehicles and the helicopter ready to act on reports of hare coursing and other crime is such a huge lift for everybody,” he said.

“Cross-border co-operation is crucial to combat this barbaric crime and the people associated with it.”

The borderless policing approach has seen hare coursing incidents across the seven force areas fall from 2,044 in 2020-21 to 1,415 in 2021-22 – a drop of 31%.

The east of England initiative builds on the nationwide Operation Galileo, where hare coursing intelligence is shared between forces across the country in an effort to identify and prosecute offenders more easily.