Drones on watch for hare coursers

Police are using drones to watch over the countryside for gangs setting dogs on hares, with Essex one of the hotspots for the illicit activity.

The trend is mirrored in Norfolk and Berkshire, which have many large fields and areas of downland where gangs can lay bets as they watch as their lurchers chase the hares.

Around 500 reports of hare coursing were reported to Essex Police last year, which the force says is a significant increase on 2016.

The force has a specialist team tackling rural crime, using drones and automatic number plate recognition software to identify suspects.

Chief Inspector Ian Gennery, of Essex local policing support unit, said: “Hare coursers are criminals and they can be violent, so please don’t approach them. Take down number plate details and any other information and call us on 999 if an incident is in progress and 101 if not.”