Watch camera footage from the National Police Air Service tracking suspected hare coursers in #Essex.
Our #RuralEngagement Team works closely with the police helicopter team, which helps them to track and arrest offenders more easily.
It’s having a deterrent effect as reports of hare coursing have dropped by 62.8% in the past three years to 130 in the 12 months to 31 August 2024.
Inspector Terry Jacobs says: “Word is getting out amongst hare coursers that Essex is an uncomfortable place to course or plan an event.
“Hare coursing is a crime, so, if you see it happening, call 999 because it is a rural emergency.
“If the police helicopter is available, the crew will assist officers on the ground to trace and track down suspects more easily. And we also have the use of a drone which can take aerial footage for us and also track suspects from the air.
“This, together with closer working with the Crown Prosecution Service and neighbouring forces, as well as landowners securing access to fields, makes it more difficult for hare coursers to evade justice in our county.”
If you see hare coursers and poachers in action, keep yourself safe and never challenge them but do ring 999 and try to provide an accurate location – What3Words is very useful for this.
And, if you have information about this type of criminal activity, please report it via our website at www.essex.police.uk/ro or ring 101.
Our rural engagement officers work closely with farmers, gamekeepers and estate staff across Essex, which is 72% rural. They provide advice on how to prevent hare coursers from getting on to farmland and also offer more general agricultural crime prevention information.
Find out more at www.essex.police.uk/ruralcrime
#ProtectingAndServingEssex
