Essex Men Nabbed with Catapults in Hare Coursing Crackdown
Rural Police Strike at Queenborough Farmland
The Rural Task Force swooped on suspected hare coursers at Neats Court, Queenborough on Sunday afternoon, February 6, 2022. Officers responded at 2.15pm after a tip-off about illegal activity on the farmland.
Three Essex Men Caught Red-Handed
Police found three men from Essex carrying catapults — a key tool in hare coursing. All three have been slapped with Community Protection Warnings. That means if they’re caught at it again, they’ll face proper court action.
Cross-County Crackdown on Hare Coursers
This bust is part of a big seven-force alliance targeting hare coursing across regions. The info from this case will be shared with other police forces, ramping up the chances of prosecutions beyond Essex.
Sergeant Sounds Warning on Hare Coursing Dangers
“Hare coursing is often committed by people who travel across policing districts to offend, so it is important we share information and work closely with colleagues in other forces to be effective. This is not a victimless crime,” said Sergeant Darren Walshaw.
“Not only is it cruel, those involved in this illegal blood sport have been known to damage property and become violent when challenged by landowners. We remain committed to working with rural communities to tackle this criminal behaviour.”
