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Hare coursing event in Cambridgeshire was so large police struggled to respond




Police are investigating a hare coursing event of “unprecedented scale” in Cambridgeshire, along with multiple related complaints about criminal damage and dangerous driving.

Incidents were reported at the weekend in Ely, Fordham, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington.

A stock image of hare coursing. Picture: iStock
A stock image of hare coursing. Picture: iStock

The force said it did not have the resources to respond to it all due to the scale of the activity and are seeking the public’s help to identify those responsible.

Local policing commander Superintendent Ben Martin said on Monday: “We understand the damage, concern and fear these incidents have brought to our rural communities and are sorry we were unable to do more to stop the activities of these people at the time.

“The information we had in advance of this gathering had very limited detail, so a force-wide dispersal order was put in place.

“However, due to the scale of the incident and the multiple locations where offences took place, as well as a significantly demanding weekend elsewhere in the county, meant we didn’t have the resources available to deal with every report we received from members of the public.

“We understand the frustrations of the community and are attending a meeting this afternoon, alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner, to speak with local residents, councillors and the local MP, to address their concerns.”

A vehicle involved in the incident has been seized and will be forensically examined and hundreds of images have been received that we will be using to identify those involved.

A stock image of hare coursing. Picture: iStock
A stock image of hare coursing. Picture: iStock

Supt Martin added: “We want to reassure the community that we are committed to policing our rural communities, and this morning two men were stopped for hare coursing in the Ramsey area. One was issued with a community protection notice, and the second a community protection warning and both were dispersed from the county.

“We continue to appeal to the public for any information they may have - CCTV, dashcam footage or doorbell footage, that can help us identify these individuals.”

Anyone with any information and footage that could help identify those involved is asked to email RCAT@cambs.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.




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