Inside the hare coursing groups where criminals brazenly sell dogs to hunt down and rip animals to shreds - as gangs invade farms and intimidate owners to stage illegal gatherings

Gangs, violence and dumped dead animals: The hidden world of illegal hare hunts On a remote Cambridgeshire farm, Mathew Latta faced a violent intrusion by a group of individuals wearing balaclavas and military-style gear. More than a dozen 4x4 vehicles arrived, cutting through his iron gates with an angle grinder and clearing the way by shifting concrete blocks. The convoy tore through his fields at high speed, leaving behind destruction and fear. Over 70 people exited the vehicles, including men in fatigues, who cheered and played music as they unleashed dogs to pursue hares. Latta described the event as “100% a properly organised coursing event,” complete with spectators, betting, and competitive dogs. The group remained on the property for over three hours, eventually abandoning four cars, one of which was a burnt-out wreck. Earlier that day, the group had caused chaos across a 20-mile stretch of the county, forcing cars off the road and even robbing a petrol station. The incident highlights the resurgence of illegal hare coursing, a practice banned in the UK since 2005. Despite the ban, the sport persists in rural areas, often under the cover of darkness and organized by criminal networks. Reports indicate that nearly 9,000 incidents of hare coursing have been recorded across the UK in the past three years, according to data obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests. These numbers, though not definitive due to potential duplicate reporting, suggest a growing concern. In some cases, law enforcement agencies have struggled to respond effectively, as seen in Cambridgeshire, where the local constabulary admitted being “very stretched” during the Latta incident. Illegal hare coursing involves the use of greyhounds or lurchers to chase hares, with points awarded for the number of twists and turns the dogs force the prey into, as well as for successful kills. The sport’s origins date back centuries, reaching its height in the 19th century. However, public outcry and animal welfare concerns led to its prohibition. Today, the practice continues in clandestine settings, often involving organized crime groups. These groups operate with intimidation tactics, threatening farmers and using violence to secure locations for their activities. The presence of armed individuals and military-style attire underscores the increasing threat posed by these groups. Online platforms, particularly Facebook, have become hubs for illegal hare coursing communities. A group known as “East Midlands Hare Coursing” operated for over a decade before being removed following inquiries by the Daily Mail. Users posted advertisements for dogs, often accompanied by graphic images of dead animals. One post showed a man holding a dog standing over a dead hare in a field, while another advertised a dog named Bruce, claiming it had “killed hundreds of rabbits, hares, and deer.” The group also discussed “lamping,” a method involving high-powered lights to disorient animals before dogs are released. While lamping itself is not illegal, it becomes so when conducted without landowner consent or with live dogs. In Hampshire, two villages became focal points of the issue. In Awbridge, over 20 carcasses, mostly hares and rabbits, alongside a muntjac deer with a severed head, were discovered outside a primary school. Children arrived to find a horrifying scene, with tears streaming down their faces. Seven miles north, in Broughton, approximately 50 hares were found near a community shop, with blood smeared on the doors and a dead barn owl and kestrel tied to the door handles. These incidents reflect the broader pattern of illegal hare coursing, where the sport’s brutality leaves a trail of devastation. Organized crime groups appear to profit significantly from the illegal activity, with some earning substantial sums from facilitating black-market betting. Dogs used in the sport can command prices exceeding £10,000, creating a lucrative black market. The groups also exploit vulnerable farmers, intimidating them into allowing their land to be used for illegal gatherings. The combination of financial gain, organized structure, and disregard for laws and public safety has enabled the persistence of this harmful practice despite legal prohibitions.