Man arrested as police respond to hare coursing reports across the county

The week is driven by the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) with support from police forces and partners across the country.

Officers from the Country Watch team, neighbourhoods teams, District Policing teams and Roads Policing Unit responded to reports of hare coursing last night (21 September) across the county.

The first incident occurred in Clanfield – police received a call at 6.10pm to reports of hare coursing taking place in land off North Lane.

Police attended and located a man with a Lurcher.

The 35-year-old was subsequently arrested on suspicion of trespass with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs under Section 63 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. This is very recent legislation that was introduced in April 2022.

The man remains in custody at this time.

Later that night, police received a call at 10.53pm of two 4x4 vehicles trespassing on land in the Woodmancott area of Rural Winchester.

Officers attended and the vehicles were located by the Dog Unit, before failing to stop for police.

One of the vehicles was subsequently located on its roof on a byway in the Cliddesden area. The occupants had since left the area, leaving behind a Lurcher dog.

A dead hare was found next to the vehicle. Police seized the vehicle, the dog, and some suspected cannabis found in the vehicle.

Enquiries remain ongoing, and we continue to encourage anyone with information about hare coursing or suspicious vehicles in their local area to please report this to police.