This is one of the hotspots in Wiltshire for hare coursing, in which criminal gangs set dogs – usually greyhounds or lurchers – on the mammals. Wiltshire police, one of the UK police forces leading the fight against the coursers, say hare coursing gangs are terrorising the countryside. But the concern is that a farmer will lose it.”In the past year, hare coursing and poaching offences rose by more than 20% in Wiltshire. One Wiltshire farm worker suffered leg and hand injuries when he was knocked to the ground by a car after confronting suspected hare coursers. We’ll pile in to try and catch the buggers.”He said hare coursers were enmeshed in international criminal networks.

Source: The Guardian January 01, 2026 13:31 UTC