Nine people detained and ten dogs seized following suspected hare coursing incidents

On 11th February, officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) responded to reports of hare coursing taking place across the south of the county. 

Officers tracked a black Mitsubishi Shogun believed to be involved and followed it to the A1198. When they attempted to stop the vehicle, it made off at speed. 

A stinger device was deployed, deflating three tyres, but the vehicle continued travelling before coming to a stop in Fox Road, Bourn. 

Six men fled from the vehicle. Five were detained shortly afterwards and have since been reported for various offences, including making off without paying, failing to stop for police and dangerous driving, the force confirmed. 

The vehicle and the five dogs found within it have been seized, as they were believed to have been used in crime. 

Police chase

Two days later, officers from Suffolk Constabulary were called to a suspected hare coursing incident on private land in Westhorpe, Stowmarket. 

Enquiries confirmed that a vehicle was travelling via back roads, and it was later sighted joining the westbound A14 at J47 near Elmswell.  

Officers attended in both marked and unmarked vehicles, with assistance from the National Police Air Service, and rolling roadblocks were placed in both directions of the A14 between junctions 43 and 42. 

The driver of the Jeep had then attempted to evade officers by travelling the wrong way on the A14 for a short distance before the occupants of the vehicle decamped and ran towards woodland near the Howard Estate in Bury St Edmunds, the force explained. 

Officers pursued the suspects on foot before they were apprehended. Their Jeep and the five dogs were seized by police, and the A14 reopened. 

Four men, aged in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of multiple offences, including hare coursing, failing to stop when directed to and dangerous driving. They have been released on bail to answer to police on 13th May. 

Officers from the Rural and Wildlife Team are now looking to speak with anyone with information and to those who may have dashcam footage that may assist with their enquiries. 

Get in touch, quoting reference 37/8814/26 online, email rwp@suffolk.police.uk, phone 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Report immediately

Sergeant Tom Nuttall from the RCAT said: “Hare coursing is an illegal activity that causes significant suffering to wildlife and harms our rural communities. It will not be tolerated here in Cambridgeshire. 

“We will continue to work closely with farmers, landowners and local residents to respond to reports and disrupt those intent on committing these offences.” 

Anyone who witnesses hare coursing should report it immediately by calling 999. Information about suspicious vehicles, trespassers or any other concerns can be reported on 101 or online. 

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