"A cold, bright afternoon in the Vale of Pewsey and a couple of brown hares were nibbling away in a field of winter barley. It was a tranquil scene in this tucked-away corner of the English West Country but tyre tracks cutting through the crop were a sign of the violence that takes place when night falls. This is one of the hotspots in Wiltshire for hare coursing, in which criminal gangs set dogs usually greyhounds or lurchers on the mammals."
"Typically, bets are placed on how many turns it will take for the hound to catch and kill a hare, with some chases livestreamed so that gamblers across the world can take part. Wiltshire police, one of the UK police forces leading the fight against the coursers, say hare coursing gangs are terrorising the countryside. I fear it's only a matter of time before a farmer or landowner here is seriously injured defending their property, said Insp Andy Lemon,"
Hare coursing gangs use dogs, usually greyhounds or lurchers, to chase and kill hares across exposed post-harvest fields. Chases are often bet on and sometimes livestreamed to gamblers worldwide. Wiltshire is a hotspot because open fields and accessible paths make coursing easier. Reported hare coursing and poaching offences in Wiltshire rose by more than 20% over the past year, and arrests since January 2025 increased dramatically. Police warn that coursing gangs are terrorising rural communities and express concern that farmers or landowners could be seriously injured if confrontations escalate.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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