Wiltshire Police have received a significant boost in their fight against hare coursing, thanks to a donation from the Hare Preservation Trust (HPT).
The Trust has provided seven poacher blocks and a drone to aid in preventing illegal hare coursing activities and supporting ongoing investigations.
This donation comes amidst a period of increased activity by Wiltshire Police targeting rural crime, with eleven arrests, eleven vehicle seizures, and nine dispersal orders issued since September.
The poacher blocks, designed to restrict access to farmland while allowing passage for agricultural machinery, will be loaned to farmers most affected by hare coursers.
One farmer who received the first block this week said: “We have had trouble with hare coursers in the past, who have all used this gateway to access the farm. There is now no other entrance for hare coursers to gain access to the farm so hopefully the poacher block will deter hare coursers from returning. Poacher blocks are a great tool, and I am hopeful it will put a stop to hare coursing on my land.”
The drone, meanwhile, will enhance the police's surveillance capabilities, allowing for more effective monitoring and response to hare coursing incidents.
Chief Inspector James Brain said: “Tackling hare coursing and poaching is one of the Chief Constable’s priorities for rural crime, and officers across the Force remain absolutely committed to tackling hare coursing and poaching. We are grateful to the Hare Preservation Trust for donating such valuable resources for us to be able to loan to our farming communities. We are hopeful that the seven new poacher blocks will support the most vulnerable victims of hare coursing to protect their property and prevent further destruction by hare coursers.”
Chief Inspector Brain continued: “Our teams have made significant progress in disrupting hare coursing incidents and bringing offenders to justice. Since September, Wiltshire Police have made eleven arrests and seized eleven vehicles. In addition, Section 35 dispersal orders have been issued to nine individuals, which bans those individuals from being in a specific location for up to 48 hours.”
The donation is expected to significantly aid efforts to protect both wildlife and the farming community from the significant damage and distress caused by hare coursing.
A spokesperson for the Hare Preservation Trust added “Rural crime, and particularly hare coursing, is an ever-increasing issue countrywide. The Hare Preservation Trust (HPT) works for the preservation and welfare of the hare, and we know that if farmers feel that their land is threatened by coursers and lampers, they will go out and rid their fields of hares themselves. This is not good for the biodiversity of the land or the hare, arguably the UK's most iconic mammal.
“To this end, the HPT has donated poacher blocks to block gateways and deter coursers. They seem to work extremely well and are designed to be moved by tractors and can therefore be placed where needed. The drone will enable the Wiltshire Rural Crime Team to see exactly where the problem is and pinpoint their response, all to the benefit of wildlife."
Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson also praised the donation and the partnership in creating a safer environment for both wildlife and residents, commenting: “The damage hare coursers cause to the environment and the physical abuse they subject anyone to who challenges them, is substantial. I'd like to thank the Hare Preservation Trust for their donation of these blocks for victims of rural crime and a drone for our Rural Crime Team. We are proud to partner with them to support their ambition to make hares and our countryside safer."
Members of the public are urged to report suspicious activity immediately by calling 999.
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