Anti-hare coursing rules imposed from August

A crackdown on hare poaching is due to start before the next season in a victory for farmers.

Tougher measures to tackle illegal hare coursing – including raising the maximum jail sentence to six months and removing a cap on fines – were brought in as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act in April.

Now the Government has confirmed that it will be enforced from August, before the coursing season begins in the autumn.

The Government has said hare coursing, which uses competing dogs to hunt hares, is linked to “criminal activities, including theft, criminal damage, violence and intimidation”.