Six men have pleaded guilty to participating in a mass hare-coursing event in Bedford.
More than 100 men attended the illegal hare coursing event between Great Barford, Ravensden and Blunham on November 10, 2021 as part of a funeral procession.
The offenders then travelled to Norse Road, Bedford, where police were called to ‘multiple reports’ of dangerous driving and hunted hares being dangled from vehicle windows in the town centre.
Footage captured on body-worn cameras as well as evidence from the public fed into Bedfordshire Police’s investigation, who also worked with the National Wildlife Crime Unit and other police forces across the UK to identify potential suspects.
On June 16, six men pleaded guilty at Luton Magistrates’ Court to offences under the Hunting Act and were ordered to pay court costs totalling more than 2,100.
They were also issued with Criminal Behaviour Orders with restrictions covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.
A further five men will have a hearing later this year.
Distress
PC Grant, from the force’s Wildlife and Rural Crime team, said: "These men have not only chosen to break the law, but also paraded trophies of their crimes through the town causing huge distress to those present and the wider community via social media.
"We hope this case will show the community that while we were unable to enforce this event at the time of the incident, the gravity of it was not lost. It was imperative that these offenders were brought to justice, and we are glad to have done just that."
National police hare coursing lead, chief inspector Phil Vickers added: "The Operation Lightning investigation demonstrates the commitment of Bedfordshire Police to tackling hare coursing, wildlife and rural crime – all of which have a significant impact on rural communities. Bedfordshire Police is one of 32 forces working together as part of Operation Galileo to tackle the criminals who cause harm through hare coursing, many of whom are involved in other criminality too.
"The impact of these incidents was felt across the country by rural communities who recognised the brazen disregard for wildlife or property, and who have supported greater police action in this area.
"This result sends a clear message to the criminals involved in hare coursing – police will put more resources into preventing your barbaric behaviour, into preventing the intimidation and damage, and into putting you before courts to impose penalties that reflect the harm you cause."
