Kent News - Rural crackdown on animal cruelty is set to start

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Friday, September 3 2010, 6:32

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Rural crackdown on animal cruelty is set to start

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Hares are hunted with dogs for wagers

A police crackdown on illegal hare coursing and poaching is being launched in the Faversham area from tomorrow, Yourswale exclusively reports.

The illegal acts of animal cruelty still take place in remote areas and hundreds of pounds are waged in bets.

But police say they are determined to see an end to the countryside criminal acts and are working with both landowners and those with expert knowledge of the rural area to end the practice.

The operation, which is being run by the Faversham Neighbourhood Team, will continue until January 31 and has two main aims - to reduce crime in the countryside and raise the confidence of people living away from the main towns in the area.

Sergeant Dave Smith, from the neighbourhood team, said although hare coursing was banned by the Hunting Act 2004 it was still taking place in remote areas with hundreds of pounds changing hands as people bet on which dogs, usually lurchers, would be the first to catch a hare.

"Hare coursing tends to start this time of year when the crops have been harvested and we got our first case this year in a field near Doddington earlier this month," said Sgt Smith.

"The people involved in this so-called sport can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to newly planted crops.

“Hares are often left with broken legs or backs and last year three dogs were abandoned in fields by their owners."

The operation will also target poachers who, by stealing pheasants and other game birds from organised shoots, also prove costly to landowners.

Officers will be working with both farmers and gamekeepers to build intelligence about offenders.

They are also appealing to the public to be their eyes and ears and to report any coursing or poaching taking place in their area.

Sgt Smith said: "Both poaching and hare coursing are often linked to other kinds of rural crime, such as theft and burglary. We want offenders to know that neither will be tolerated.

"Last year we seized three vehicles and three men were arrested for stealing diesel from tractors. We recovered stolen farm machinery and a man was arrested for a burglary at Throwley.

“Intelligence gathered from the operation also led to the discovery of two cannabis factories in Newnham and Throwley Forstal earlier this year."

Anyone with information about rural crime should contact the Faversham Neighbourhood Team on 07980 683726.

POSTED: 30/09/2009 08:00:00