Hare poaching crackdown gets green light

After more than four years of intensive campaigning alongside partners in the realms of animal welfare and rural affairs, the Countryside Alliance is delighted to have finally succeeded in helping coax the Government to act on illegal hare poaching.

Yesterday in the House of Lords the Government tabled a series of amendments to the Police Bill that will put on the law books all the essentials of the tough measures we have called for to crack down on this blight on the countryside. The amendments were accepted, and we now expect them to complete their parliamentary journey in time for implementation before the new 'season' in the autumn.

The measures will remove the cap on fines that can be levied for hare poaching, which is essential given the sums of money that can change hands in illegal gambling, and allow the courts to imprison poachers for up to six months. Upon conviction the courts will be able to disqualify offenders from owning a dog and allow police to recover kennelling costs associated with any connected seizures. There will also be a new criminal offence of trespassing with intent to pursue a hare.

Introducing the amendments, Government Whip Lord Sharpe of Epsom, said:

"In Committee, many noble Lords emphasised the need for early action to crack down further on illegal hare coursing. We have heard eloquent testimony to the cruelty involved and the harm and distress which this activity can cause to rural communities… That is why we are taking an early opportunity to act by tabling these government amendments, which, I trust, following on from the debate in Committee, will be widely welcomed. They address most of the issues raised by the right reverend Prelate and, indeed, go further by introducing additional measures besides."

Lord Sharpe was speaking of the Bishop of St Albans with whom the Countryside Alliance had extensive contact as he prepared his backbench amendments that were tabled earlier. The Lord Bishop said in response:

"I note that the changes the Government are bringing forward are the result of a long-running campaign. I pay tribute to organisations such as the NFU, the CLA and others, which have continually raised this issue and campaigned for a change in the law… [T]his is a victory for rural communities, rural police forces, hares and, I believe, Her Majesty's Government; I strongly welcome it."

The Bishop of St Albans was right that this victory would not have been achieved without the tenacious efforts of rural organisations to sustain the issue in focus; the Countryside Alliance was glad to play its part. As the measures are brought in we will monitor their effectiveness closely, seeking to ensure they are fully enforced so that the ravages of the poachers can at last be consigned to history.