Published on:
22 January 2025
Hare coursing sentencing guidelines – consultation
A consultation paper on draft hare coursing sentencing guidelines.
Why hare coursing offences?
The maximum penalties for offences committed under section 1 of the Night Poaching Act 1828 and section 30 of the Game Act 1831 were increased from a fine to six months’ custody under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The 2022 Act also introduced the latter two offences mentioned above (Trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs and Being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs etc).
Beyond the harm done to animals, hare coursing activities often involve aggressive and threatening behaviour towards local residents, some of whom may be isolated. Criminal damage is also very common. The increase in maximum penalties was a response to a longstanding view that a fine was not a sufficient deterrent to those who committed hare coursing offences. The courts now have a fuller suite of sentencing powers, including new ancillary orders, to deal with hare coursing offences. In recent years, Operation Galileo has seen police forces co-operate across the country to share intelligence and tackle this offending.
Who should respond?
We would like to hear from anyone who uses sentencing guidelines in their work or who has an interest in sentencing. We would also like to hear from individuals and organisations representing anyone who could be affected by the proposals including:
- victims and their families;
- defendants and their families;
- those under probation supervision or youth offending teams/supervision;
- those with protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
What do we want to know?
Through this consultation process, the Council is seeking views on:
- the principal factors that make any of the offences included within the draft guidelines more or less serious
- the additional factors that should influence the sentence
- the types and lengths of sentence that should be passed, and
- whether there are any issues relating to disparity of sentencing and/or broader matters relating to equality and diversity that the guidelines could and should address.
When and how to respond
The consultation closes on 25 April 2025. See About this consultation for how to respond and our policies on Freedom of Information and privacy.