Hare coursing is a UK wildlife crime priority and an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Groups travel far and wide to indulge in this illegal activity a blood sport in which dogs are used to chase, turn, and catch and kill hares.
The World Animal Protection (WAP) charity released a report last summer emphasising the impact wildlife crime is having, and how organised crime groups are muscling their way in.
It claims gangs are making large sums of money from such illegal activities, highlighting that hare coursing can generate as much as £10 000 a month income.
WAP said the problem hits not only the individual animals but also biodiversity.
PC Lindsay Kerr wildlife and environmental crime Coordinator, P Division (Fife) Police Scotland said: “Poaching and coursing are wildlife crime priorities and are the most commonly reported crime in this area.
“Coursing is principally a seasonal crime whenever the crops are low in the ground, meaning it occurs throughspring and after the late summer harvest.
“There is the potential for organised crime groups to be involved in coursing, but smaller independent groups also take part.”
PC Kerr said there is a major animal cruelty aspect to this activity, and that it also frequently impacts not only on the landowner or manager, but the wider community and rural businesses because of the associated violence and thefts.
Those involved often use lurchers, greyhounds and whippets dogs which hunt by sight and are normally walked across fields on slip leads and released when any hares run off.
It has been known for a number of dogs to chase one hare, and money to change hands depending on which dog kills the hare.
There are several issues associated with hare coursing that merit the attention of police.
These include the following.
Public safety: offenders may have access to firearms, not all of them licensed; rotting hare innards and other parts are a public health issue.
Livestock safety: sheep, cattle and horses can be injured by lurchers or 4×4 vehicles; livestock can escape if gates are left open, thereby causing traffic issues and potentially loss of income for farmers.
Animal welfare issues: it is often the case that hares are not killed outright, causing prolonged suffering; coursing dogs are run to exhaustion and sometimes injured.
Habitat destruction: 4×4 vehicles can cause considerable damage to wildlife habitats.
Research has shown that the type of person who takes part in this type of activity is often linked to other types of criminality.
Typically, they will also be involved in other types of wildlife crime and are among the most prolific offenders in respect of wildlife crime.
For those offenders, this type of crime is usually a ‘status symbol’, and can run from generation to generation.
As to what can be done, awareness is important. The police attempt to raise this through local media outlets to highlight wildlife crime.
They also try to educate the general public by attending local engagement meetings, arranging wildlife seminars and delivering presentations to local colleges.
This issue cannot be tackled by the police alone, so they have developed useful working relationships with a number of partner organisation such as Scottish Land & Estates and the National Farmers Union Scotland.
They help to raise awareness of the issue among their membership and also allow each group to share any relevant information.
However, the public in general, and specifically the wider rural community all have a role to play in tackling this type of crime; they are the eyes and the ears of the countryside.
If anyone witnesses or suspects that hare coursing is taking place they should contact 101 immediately.
Anyone who has questions about hare coursing or wildlife crime can contact Lindsay Kerr by calling 07958 141 799, or at lindsay.kerr@scotland.pnn.police.uk.