Dorset Police cracking down on poaching and hare coursing yet again this summer
Dorset police has begun a rural crackdown where poaching and hare coursing hotspots will be targeted
Dorset police have launched a crackdown on poaching and hare coursing, with specialist officers targeting rural areas where reports of offences are most prevalent.
This year’s Operation Galileo will bring together the force’s Rural Crime Team (RCT), roads policing officers and specialist drone operators in an effort to protect agricultural land and pursue those suspected of rural offences.
The operation’s first deployment focused on east and north Dorset, where police responded to intelligence from members of the public identifying areas being targeted by poachers and hare coursers.
Officers provided a highly visible presence across rural communities and stopped a number of vehicles during the operation. Two vehicles were suspected of displaying cloned number plates.
Sergeant Mia Jakeman, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, said poaching and associated offences could have consequences extending beyond harm to wildlife.
“Poaching and related offences do not only involve cruelty to wild animals, they also have a significant financial impact on rural landowners during what is a crucial time of year for them,” she said.
Sergeant Jakeman said the force was committed to working with rural communities and sharing intelligence with partner organisations and neighbouring police forces.
Operation Galileo will form part of wider proactive policing in areas known to attract poaching and hare coursing activity.
Police have warned that poaching should not be dismissed as harmless rural entertainment.
Instead, Sergeant Jakeman described it as a serious criminal offence that was “often linked to organised crime networks” and said officers would take robust action against those involved.
The public is also being urged to report suspicious activity to police, with information from residents helping officers identify hotspots and respond to incidents.
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said poaching and hare coursing could have a “devastating impact” on farming communities, landowners and the countryside.
He said the offences could cause distress to landowners, threaten livestock and wildlife and result in damage to crops and property, while also being connected to wider organised criminality.
“Operations like Op Galileo demonstrate Dorset Police's determination to take proactive action against those who think they can use our rural areas as a place to commit crime,” PCC Sidwick said.
He added that rural communities deserved to feel safe and supported and said he would continue backing the Rural Crime Team and investment in policing across Dorset.