Almost half of recorded hare coursing incidents in Lincolnshire over the past six months occurred in South Holland.
More than 2,000 calls for service by Lincolnshire Police were made during the traditional hare coursing “season” (September 1 to March 31) – up 120 per cent up on the previous season. Police say that is broadly in line with what other local forces have experienced.
The figures have been released following a review of Operation Galileo, the ongoing rural crime project.
Police said: “From 1st September to 31st March there have been 176 men arrested or reported for summons.
“This is compared to 65 men in the 2014/15 season. This is a 170 per cent increase in our enforcement activity.
“In addition 19 vehicles have been seized and 93 other men have been dealt with by other disruption tactics and enforcement action such as Direction to Leave, traffic offences, etc. Three dogs have been seized.”
The worst-hit area for hare coursing incidents has been South Holland, which recorded 937. That was 43 per cent of all such incidents in Lincolnshire.
Ch Insp Jim Tyner, force lead for rural crime said: “Operation Galileo is here to stay. This huge increase in incidents of hare coursing shows the significant impact on our rural communities.
“Despite competing policing demands, we have continued to provide a response and this is reflected in the high number of men dealt with for hare coursing offences.
“In partnership with representatives from the NFU, the CLA and other agencies, I am now looking at our tactics for the next season, where we will be focussing on the seizure of dogs used in hare coursing. This has been shown to have the biggest impact on those who chose to come to our county to take part in this illegal act.”
