Three men arrested on suspicion of pre-Bonfire Night hare coursing

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of hare coursing after reportedly trespassing on private farm land to participate in a ‘barbaric sport' prior to Bonfire Night.

Humberside Police said they received a report on Sunday (November 5) regarding three men who were trespassing on a farm in the Goole area.

One man allegedly released a dog to attack a hare, police added.

Officers said the men were arrested after an on-foot chase which involved the use of a drone and assistance from Farm Watch neighbourhood police volunteers.

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Humberside Police confirmed the details of all three arrests as follows:

• A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of hunting a wild mammal with dogs and of being equipped in searching for hares with dog and trespassing with intent to search for hares with dogs
• A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of hunting a wild mammal with dogs
• A 24- year old man was arrested on suspicion of being equipped in searching for hares with dog and trespassing with intent to search for hares with dogs.

Police said they recovered a vehicle, mobile phones, thermal scope and a video recorder from the scene.

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They were released on bail with conditions not to enter Humberside until its investigation has ended.

Sergeant Kev Jones, from Humberside Police's Rural Task Force, said: "For most, harvest is now complete and the last of the crops have now been brought in meaning stubble fields leave little protection for brown hares.

"This is now the time of year where we see visiting criminals come to our area to hunt hares with dogs, a ‘barbaric sport' known as hare coursing.

"We want you to report any suspicious activity to us, particularly in the early hours of the morning if you suspect hare coursing is in progress. 

"By letting us know as soon as possible, we can catch offenders in the act."

You can learn more about requesting a rural crime prevention visit from Humberside Police here.

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