In the serene Vale of Pewsey, a quiet afternoon unfolds, yet beneath the surface, a sinister activity thrives. Brown hares, seemingly unaware of the impending danger, nibble on winter barley in a field. This idyllic scene, however, masks a brutal underground world. Here, criminal gangs engage in hare coursing, a brutal sport where dogs, often greyhounds or lurchers, are unleashed on these creatures. The stakes are high, with bets placed on the number of 'turns' it takes for the hound to catch and kill a hare, sometimes even livestreamed for global spectators. This is a growing concern in Wiltshire, a hotspot for such illegal activities.
Wiltshire Police, at the forefront of the battle against hare coursing, describe it as a terrorizing act. Inspector Andy Lemon, the tactical lead for rural crime, warns of the potential for serious injury to farmers or landowners defending their property. The situation has escalated, with hare coursing and poaching offences rising by over 20% in the past year. Since January 2025, 30 arrests have been made, a stark increase from the previous year. The gangs travel from across the UK, targeting Wiltshire's open fields post-harvest, providing ideal conditions for their illicit pursuits.
The areas favored by coursers are often crisscrossed by paths and bridleways, easily accessible to determined criminals with four-wheel-drive vehicles. Despite the deployment of armed officers, drone operators, and road traffic teams, the offenders skillfully evade capture. Lemon highlights the challenge, stating that the crime occurs wherever hares are found, and some police forces may not be aware of its extent.
Farmers in the area have taken defensive measures, including concrete-filled troughs and fallen trees across field gates. However, these efforts are often in vain. The coursers, driven by big money and the thrill of the chase, smash through gates and fences, showing no remorse. One farmer recounted how his land was used for coursing ten times in a single month, leading to significant financial investments in security measures.
The impact of hare coursing extends beyond economic losses. It has resulted in nasty incidents, including a Wiltshire farm worker suffering injuries from a car accident after confronting suspected coursers. A barn was set ablaze, and three cows were killed in a road accident when fencing was destroyed. A disturbing video circulated by coursers shows a farmer being surrounded by vehicles in his field, ramming his car.
Conservation efforts to improve hare conditions have inadvertently contributed to the rise in hare coursing, according to a local farmer. The police and crime commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, describes the situation as a crisis, with the coursers terrorizing the community. Wilkinson, a former British army officer, is determined to clamp down on the coursers, utilizing armed response teams and traffic officers.
The coursers are linked to international criminal networks, with activities extending to China and eastern Europe, including the theft of farm equipment. The impact is not just economic but also cruel to the hares and dogs involved. David Bowles, from the RSPCA, highlights the brutal nature of the sport, where dogs catch and rip hares to pieces.
Hare coursing was outlawed in the Hunting Act 2004, with recent strengthening of the ban and increased powers to seize dogs. Police forces, including Wiltshire and Lincolnshire, collaborate with organizations like the RSPCA, National Farmers' Union, and Countryside Alliance to combat the issue. The efforts are showing results, with a decrease in abandoned dogs associated with hare coursing, but the battle against this ancient and brutal sport continues.
