Organized crime gangs are driving a tenfold increase in illegal hare coursing events across the UK, using social media platforms to sell dogs, stage hunts, and facilitate black market betting. These groups are known to invade farms, intimidate landowners, and operate with armed members often clad in military-style clothing.
These illegal gatherings involve unleashing dogs, such as lurchers and greyhounds, on wild hares for sport. The dogs earn points for chasing and killing the prey, a practice outlawed in the UK by the 2005 Hunting Act. Prizes at these events can reach up to £50,000, with organizers generating substantial income from illicit betting.
The lucrative nature of the sport has created a black market for dogs, with puppies and adults fetching prices exceeding £10,000. Facebook groups, such as the now-removed 'East Midlands Hare Coursing,' were used for over a decade to advertise dogs for sale, often accompanied by graphic images of dead hares. Similar groups, including one claiming to be based in Ireland but advertising a dog from Worcestershire, have also been identified and subsequently removed by Meta after media inquiries.
Reports indicate that participants frequently engage in intimidation tactics, sometimes leaving carcasses of hares, rabbits, and even deer outside public places like schools and village shops. Landowners have reported confrontations with masked individuals carrying weapons, including catapults. In one instance, a farmer described a large-scale event where over 70 people cut through iron gates with angle grinders to access his land, bringing dogs for coursing and gambling while playing loud music.
Police data shows approximately 9,000 reports of hare coursing incidents over the past three years. Law enforcement agencies believe participants travel from across England and Wales, employing tactics like distraction routes and even robbery to facilitate their activities. Cambridgeshire Police arrested over 40 individuals in connection with one large event, leading to 25 charges and several convictions.
Investigators have uncovered trophies such as the 'Super 8 Cup,' awarded to winning owners, and have identified 27 prolific offenders, many with links to organized crime. These individuals are described by the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit as some of the country's most organized criminals, exhibiting violent behavior, carrying weapons, and making threats.
Social media platforms have stated they have removed groups that violate their policies after being alerted to their content. The practice of 'lamping,' which involves using lights to disorient animals before they are attacked by dogs, is also associated with these illegal activities when conducted without landowner permission or when dogs are set on live prey.