Four men have been banned from Wiltshire - for 24 hours - after a hare coursing incident.

Police in Devizes were called to Etchilhampton at 8am yesterday (December 23) after receiving information regarding potential hare coursing.

At 8.30am a car, with four passengers, was stopped by officers.

Four men, two from Frome, one from Wokingham and one from Bracknell, were reported for daytime trespass under the Game Act, and issued with a Section 35 dispersal order banning them from the county for a "fixed period of time."

Police officers then escorted the men out the county.

Today, a Wiltshire police spokesman revealed the "fixed period of time" was just 24 hours.

He said: "We were called to reports of potential hare coursing in Etchilhampton shortly after 8am yesterday.

"Four men were reported for daytime trespass under the Game Act and issued with a Section 35 dispersal order banning them from the county for a fixed period of time.

Today, officers from Devizes Police stopped a vehicle with four males on board. They were suspected to be hare coursing....

Posted by Wiltshire Rural Crime Team on Wednesday, 23 December 2020

"If you wish to report an incident of hare coursing in progress please call us on 999.

"If anyone has any information regarding a hare coursing event please contact us on our non-emergency number 101. Or you can report to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."


What is hare coursing?

Hare coursing is a bloodsport where dogs are used to chase, catch and kill hares.

It is illegal in the UK under the Hunting Act 2004, which makes it an offence to hunt wild mammals with dogs.  Anyone convicted of the offence can receive a fine of up to £5,000 by a Magistrates’ Court.

Legislation also gives police the powers to seize and detain vehicles until the court hearing.  Powers to seize vehicles may also be granted under section 30 of the Game Act 1831.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Hare coursing tends to start after harvest when large areas of land have been cleared of standing crops.  It usually occurs at dawn or dusk.

Wiltshire's rural landscape makes it a popular area for hare coursing.  It often attracts coursers from outside of the county.