Four arrested after Essex Police responded to hare coursing reports. Rural team, dog unit and helicopter assisted.
Police arrested four people. Two men were from Basildon, aged 68 and 33. A 37-year-old Basildon woman went to jail too. A 19-year-old man from Wickford was also arrested. A 28-year-old man from Birstall, near Leicester, was also arrested. Cops suspected them of searching for hares with dogs illegally.
They all got released. Police are still investigating the case and haven’t finished their inquiries yet.
Inspector Terry Jacobs spoke about hare coursing, saying it worries rural communities and affects people deeply.
He wants people to call 999 if they spot hare coursing. Police work together to make arrests, using the air service and dog handlers, with help from local teams. Hare coursing in Essex decreased by 56% compared to the prior year, according to numbers from Feb 16.
Police want people to call 999 right away and give them facts if you see hare coursing, including What3Words location details, full descriptions of people and vehicles, registration numbers, and the direction they’re traveling. You can report info on the Essex Police website, or call 101 to share details.
Crimestoppers takes anonymous reports online at crimestoppers-uk.org, or by phone at 0800 555 111.