Hugh's new BILL for Farmers

HUGH ROBERTSON TO INTRODUCE NEW BILL TO CURB ILLEGAL HARE COURSING IN KENT

Hugh Robertson introduced a Private Members Bill on Wednesday 7 January to curb the practise of illegal hare coursing. The issue has begun to affect many rural communities across the North Downs and the Weald.

Hugh’s bill, ‘The Illegal Hare Coursing (Enforcement of Prohibition) Bill came about as a direct result of a series of complaints from constituents at the MP’s surgery. At a follow up meeting, briefed by the Kent Police, the full scale of the problem became apparent.

a. Groups of people, often about 20 in number, gather at a pre-arranged point on the North Downs with dogs. The location is communicated on the internet.

b. These people trespass on the land causing considerable damage – often at night. If anybody asks them to leave, they become aggressive and threatening.

c. They operate as a gambling syndicate with large amounts of money changing hands.

d. Because all those in the line have dogs, large numbers of hares are killed.

e. Theft, and other petty crime, often follows an illegal hare coursing event.

The police are often powerless to act because the legislation is out of date. The new bill would make illegal hare coursing a particular criminal offence and as the support of the police.

Hugh persuaded Kent Police to mount a specific operation to prevent illegal hare coursing. It is modelled on a similar, and successful, operation in the Thames Valley.

Hugh said: “This is a terrific opportunity to stamp out an unpleasant criminal activity. It is causing very considerable anxiety across my constituency, quite apart from the animal welfare issues, and I am determined to ensure that those who carry it out should feel the full force of the law.”