Hare-coursers caught red-handed by police using drone technology

♦ A drone has been used to catch hare-coursers for the first time by police in Norfolk.

The “eye in the sky” was launched after police received reports of a gang using dogs to chase hares close to Downham Market, near King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Four men were questioned and their 4x4 car seized.

Until now police had difficulty tracking and gathering evidence against hare-coursers. But using the drone officers can now home in on the gangs that take bets on the dogs that chase and kill hares in the wild.

Sergeant Mark Askham who led the operation said: “This sends out a clear message that officers are committed to disrupting illegal hare-coursing in Norfolk and we will seek to prosecute anyone who is caught taking part in this kind of activity.”

The force will also use its drones to investigate other rural crimes, monitor demonstrations and search for missing people.

The drones, which are fitted with a high-resolution camera, can be launched within minutes from any location and send aerial footage back to officers on the ground and to the force’s control room in Wymondham.