Rural police in Shrewsbury back crackdown on hare coursing

Police in the county town are supporting a wider force operation to tackle illegal hare coursing.

Officers from the Shrewsbury Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team are backing West Mercia Police’s Operation Snare.

The operation is a dedicated initiative to challenge hare coursing across the countryside in the regions of West Mercia.

Hare coursing is when criminals release dogs such as whippets, lurchers and greyhounds to chase wild hares.

The practice is illegal under the Hunting Act 2004.

A spokesperson for Shrewsbury Police said online: “Hare coursing is a serious crime often linked to organised criminality.

“It causes significant harm to wildlife, damages farmland, and can involve trespass, intimidation of farmers, anti-social behaviour, and criminal damage.

“With harvests now completed, fields become more open, making wildlife more vulnerable and increasing the risk of coursing activity.”

West Mercia Police has said it will be increasing patrols in the countryside and working alongside farmers, landowners, the National Farmers Union, and other organisations as part of the operation.

Police have asked for the public to look out for and report: vehicles driving suspiciously across farmland; groups of people accompanied by sighthounds; trespassers, crop, fence or property damage; and farmers being intimidated.

The public can report such activity by calling 999 if the crime is in progress, calling 101 in a non-emergency, or by going online.

People can also report crime anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The police urge note taking of any vehicle registrations, vehicle make, model and colour, the number of people involved, the number of dogs and breed, and the exact location and direction of their travel.

They continued by stating that any photographic or video evidence of the hare coursing activity could also be helpful in any police investigation.

Shrewsbury Police’s announcement comes as the Shropshire Star has launched its Rural Crime Awareness Month this November.

Over the next four weeks, the newspaper will be speaking to key figures across the county, from MPs to farming leaders, victims and the police, to shine a light on the issue plaguing many in the county.