ESSEX Police officers are working closely with farmers, landowners and partner agencies after a rise in hare coursing and related crime across the Uttlesford district during 2025.
While the long‑term trend since 2018 has been a drop in reported hare coursing incidents in both Uttlesford and across Essex as a whole, last year saw an increase.
This reflected a national rise and was largely linked to the hot, dry summer and early harvest, which left fields flat and bare for longer – ideal conditions for hare coursing.
Inspector Phil Jackson, of Uttlesford Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), says his officers and the force’s Rural Engagement Team (RET) are already engaging with local farmers, residents and landowners ahead of the new hare coursing season.
“We are listening to their concerns, offering crime prevention advice and explaining exactly what information they need to tell us if they spot hare coursers on their land,” he says.
“We also aim to keep our communities better informed about the action we are taking to tackle hare coursers and their vehicles, plus other rural crimes, such as trailer and quad bike thefts.”
Inspector Jackson explains that the key to tackling hare coursing and, indeed, any crime is knowing where it is happening.
“We rely on reports from the public, alongside other police intelligence, to help us identify crime hotspots and target our patrols and other operational activity.
“Using this information, we’ll be patrolling key locations at key times as we work to improve our response to reported hare coursing incidents later in the summer, autumn and winter.
“But, if incidents aren’t reported, we don’t know where the problem areas are and can’t take action.”
Uttlesford NPT and the RET are supported by a range of specialist resources and, this year, they have a couple of new ones at their disposal.
As well as using the National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter and the RET’s drone to track suspects, neighbourhood policing officers now have a mobile automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera – funded by Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership (CSP).
This allows officers on patrol to check vehicle registrations against police databases to identify stolen or uninsured vehicles, which are often used by hare coursers.
They also have another 4×4 vehicle to improve the team’s ability to target offenders in more rural and off-road locations.
The RET has been working with a local farmer, who reported a high number of hare coursing incidents last season, advising them on security measures to limit access to their land.
While, under the banner of Operation Around, the team deploys trail cameras, based on crime pattern analysis, recent incidents and intelligence linked to crime hotspots.
These solar-powered cameras are funded by cash seized from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act. They are being used in isolated areas to help deter crimes such as hare coursing, fly tipping and the theft of plant and machinery, while providing valuable reassurance and support to victims.
