Police ‘powerless’ to stop online gambling on illegal bloodsports
Betting syndicates as far away as China bet huge sums as they watch cruel livestreamed events
‘Given the support for tougher measures and concern about the activity of hare poachers … there can be no more excuse for delay’
“THEY are laughing at us because the police are powerless to stop them,” gamekeeper Edward Coles said after another day looking for gangs of gamblers who leave a trail of “destruction”.
They drive on to private land and set their dogs on a hare or, increasingly, a deer, live streaming the chase on the dark web, where it is said betting syndicates as far away as China bet heavily on which dog will bring down the animal.
The illegal activity brings in huge sums for organised crime syndicates but as it stands those responsible face a maximum fine of up to £5,000. Earlier this month, footage posted on social media showed dozens of 4x4 cars and dogs zig-zagging across a field chasing hares while police stood by, powerless to do anything because of the sheer number of people involved.
About 100 people were said to have turned up for the illegal event, many of whom were drinking heavily.
Other footage filmed later the same day showed cars being driven through Bedford town centre with people sitting on the vehicles’ roofs and hanging out of their windows waving dead hares.
Existing legislation covering hare coursing and poaching treats it as a minor offence to be dealt with in magistrates courts. But countryside groups are calling for the Government to change the law, increasing the maximum fines courts can impose and enabling them to hand out custodial sentences and confiscation orders for dogs and vehicles.
Mr Coles, a gamekeeper in Cambridgeshire, said that hare coursing and poaching have been a problem “forever”, but the criminals have come “back with a vengeance” in the wake of the pandemic. He has to patrol the estate he manages regularly because hare coursers have been targeting it.
Whilst the “brazen” coursing largely happens in broad daylight, the poachers often stay out as the sun sets and this is when they become more aggressive, Mr Coles said.
“Sometimes you will come in and find a half-alive deer in the field where they have set the dogs on it. It is animal cruelty,” he said. “They bring catapults with them and they start targeting the pheasants in the trees. They bet on how many birds they can shoot. They don’t even take the carcasses, just rip the heads off.
“During the evening they tend to be more violent. In the day you can generally spook them and they move on. But at night … they try to ram your vehicle and would think nothing of aiming the catapult at you.”
Those involved are often part of organised criminal gangs that have been linked to firearms and drugs networks.
“There have been cases over the last couple of years where police have caught up with them and found £20,000 in cash in the car,” Mr Coles said. “If you fine someone like that £1,000, it is not a deterrent, just an occupational hazard.”
“Something needs to happen, or someone will get seriously hurt,” Mr Coles warned.
Often five men and four dogs will arrive in a single car, he added, claiming that farmers and gamekeepers carry out patrols and do “a lot of the leg work” for the police.
“When you report it you often don’t see a police officer ’til the next day, which isn’t much good if you have had a vehicle try to ram you and your windscreen is smashed,” Mr Coles said.
“When officers do turn up, they are in a panda and they can’t pursue a 4x4 across fields. Last year, they turned up, but couldn’t pursue them because they hadn’t done their pursuit training.
“We desperately need a change in the law, but you also need those boots on the ground if we are going to stop this.”
Farmers risk being attacked or prosecuted if they use firearms to defend themselves, he said. Ramming a vehicle carries an even more significant penalty, but victims are often unwilling to go to court for fear of reprisals.
“If you go to court and point the finger then you can pretty much guarantee that three months later or six months later your farm has been burnt down or your tractor set alight,” Mr Coles said.
The Countryside Alliance is among those calling on the Government to back an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill currently making its way through parliament.
The amendment, which is said to have cross-party support, is due to be tabled in the House of Lords. Tim Bonner, the alliance’s chief executive, said: “Rural communities have been waiting far too long for the Government to get serious about tackling hare poaching.
“It is time for talk to give way to action. Given the level of support for tougher measures and concern across the countryside about the activity of hare poachers, we expect these proposals to be revisited in the House of Lords. There can be no more excuse for delay.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said last night that it is “committed” to cracking down on the issue and will toughen up the law when “time allows”. Its spokesman said: “We are clear that those found guilty of hare coursing activities should be subject to the full force of the law. Our Action Plan for Animal Welfare sets out our intention to crack down on hare coursing and provide law enforcement with more tools to tackle the issue effectively, including through legislation.”