A new police operation targeting rural crime linked to organised criminality has been launched in Worcestershire.
Operation Snare will focus see West Mercia Police cracking down on the illegal activity of hare coursing.
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: “Operation Snare is starting this National Rural Crime Action Week and will involve officers and staff from our rural crime teams working with the farming community and our partner agencies.
“Hare coursing is a serious crime which is often associated with organised criminality. It causes severe animal welfare harm and has a wider impact on rural communities through trespass, damage to land and anti-social behaviour.”
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Coursing requires large, open spaces for the hare and dogs to run in, which makes agricultural land in Worcestershire popular with illegal poachers.
It is most common on land shortly after crops have been harvested, but it also happens when crops have recently been sown, or on fields left to grass.
The spokesperson said: “We will be working in partnership with farmers and agencies including the NFU and Worcestershire Wildlife Trust to step up efforts to target hare coursing now that harvests have taken place, which are earlier than normal this year due to the heatwaves that have hit the UK.”
