WEST Mercia Police is targeting the illegal and cruel practice of hare coursing as part of a new operation focused on tackling this activity that also harms our countryside.

Police in Ross-on-Wye are no strangers to hare coursing and poaching as the force have frequently reporting attending incidents locally, especially in the Bridstow area.

Operation Snare started last week as part of the National Rural Crime Action Week saw officers and staff from the constabulary’s rural crime teams working with the farming community.

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.

After the fields have been harvested they become more open, making hares and deer easier to spot and therefore more vulnerable to coursing activity.

West Mercia Police is also asking farmers, landowners, and rural residents to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity promptly to us to help combat these criminals.

Coinciding with the National Rural Crime Action Week was Back British Farming Day at which local town and county councillor Ed O’Driscoll visited local farmer Ally Hunter Blair at Weir End Farm in Ross.

And while water and food security were top of the items discussed along with what local government and Westminster can do to help farmers continue producing the high-quality food we all rely on was one issue Cllr O’Driscoll said he wasn’t expecting, was rural crime.

Cllr O’Driscoll said: “Poaching and hare coursing remain a serious problem, with 4x4 vehicles travelling in at night, dogs being run across farmland leaving significant damage behind.

“For farmers, that means expense, lost time and enormous frustration,” and added that he’ll be raising this issue with the local police team based in Ross to see what more can be done to support farmers and tackle the problem.

Cllr O’Driscoll added: “It was also fascinating to hear about the ways farms are diversifying in response to increasing cost pressures. Ally has branched out with glamping pods which have proved hugely successful.”

Inspector Billy Keys of West Mercia’s prevention hub south said: “Hare coursing is a cruel and harmful activity that is particularly prevalent post-harvest in our countryside.

“We are working with farmers, rural communities and partners, in targeting those responsible as part of Operation Snare.

“We are also seeing more reports of organised offenders using off road vehicles to trespass on land.

“In addition to the criminal offences, we will be looking to use powers from various acts to seek criminal behaviour orders against offenders and to seize vehicles being driven in an anti-social manner or used to commit hare coursing.

“We will be increasing patrols at key times and in key locations to achieve this, but the public can also help us by reporting any suspicious activity.”

If you see suspicious vehicles driving across farmland, groups with sighthounds, trespassers, damage to crops, or any evidence of criminal damage to gates, fences, and property call the police via 101 or its website westmercia.police.uk/report, but always dial 999 in an emergency.