‘We’ll keep seeing those really big fines and seizures!’ Lincolnshire Police determined to crack criminal gangs this hare coursing season

Lincolnshire Police’s crackdown on hare coursing has been getting results that have been the envy of many forces, but as the new season enters its busy period the message remains the same.

Monday saw Inspector Chris Davis and his seven-strong Rural Crime Action Team meet with the media to discuss their recent success stories, reassure residents that they are doing everything in their powers to keep them safe and - most notably - remind criminal gangs the severe punishments they can expect when caught.

Just this month a court ordered three men - Samuel Sheady snr, Samuel Sheady jnr and Jason Davis - to cough up £52,000 in fines and kennelling costs as well as dishing out driving bans, while Essex resident Albert Eastwood was ordered to pay £12,000 and was banned from keeping dogs for 15 years after pleading guilty to being equipped for coursing.

“There are still cases in the pipeline going through the courts and we’ll keep seeing those really big fines and seizures coming from that,” Insp Davis said.

“Hopefully, it will deter people coming into the county.”

Laws passed in 2022 giving the police greater powers to hit hare coursers where it hurts mean they can now issue criminals with large fines and kenneling fees as well as issuing driving bans.

Equipment including thermal imaging telescopes worth thousands of pounds, vehicles and even the dogs may be seized by police while orders banning those found guilty from entering certain counties or keeping dogs can be imposed.

This, as well as the sharing of intelligence with other forces, has seen a huge dip in the number of offences reported in the county.

"We’ve seen a year-on-year reduction in hare coursing based on that,” Insp Davis continued.

“We went from 1,500, 1,900 incidents over the last couple of years and then last year we got it down to 256.

“The hard work of the team is having its effect and that legislation is helping.

“Other forces are talking to us and asking how we’re getting our results. It’s not just us, it’s the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) helping us by having a dedicated rural crime lawyer helping us push these things through.”

But due to the money involved in coursing - a bloodsport where dogs chase and attempt to catch and kill hares - there will always be some attracted to the illegal practice.

Crime gangs - the vast majority of whom come from outside Lincolnshire - stream the chases vis social media for viewers across the country to place bet on.

“Not only is it a really cruel sport, but a lot of those people involved are from the criminal fraternity,” said Insp Davis.

“We’re not just stopping a barbaric sport, we’re trying to stop people coming to the county who come from criminal backgrounds. That could lead to potentially further criminal incidents in the county.”

The severe punishments hare coursers face mean many criminals will take extreme risks to avoid being caught, driving at extreme speeds on and off road as they attempt to evade police.

This - as well as the damage they cause to farmland in Lincolnshire - could have potentially devastating effects on innocent members of the public.

“We will not allow it,” Insp Davis added.

“We’ve got some really isolated communities at risk and we’re trying to make it safe for them.”