Mar 11, 2016

Bottesford NHW Alert: Hare Coursing / Fish Seller Cold Calling In Orston

Hare Coursing:
 
We have received a report indicating that Hare Coursing has been taking place in the fields around the Beacon. Hare coursing is the pursuit of hares using sighthounds. Participants spread in a line across a field and disturb the hare from its home. They then release their dogs to give chase. A bet is made on which dog will catch the hare first with large sums of money changing hands. Once killed, the hare's body is discarded and the participants carry on until all the hares in the field have been caught and they will then move on to the next field.
 
Hare coursing is a blood sport and is a completely banned under the Hunting Act 2004. Anyone convicted of the offence can be fined up to £5,000 by a Magistrates' Court.

Local farmers, land owners and villages using local footpaths are asked to report any signs of this activity to the police without delay. The most obvious sign is a group of vehicles parked in a rural area perhaps by a gateway to farmland, on a grass verge, on a farm track or bridle path. There will usually be estate cars, four wheel drives or vans. They may contain evidence of dogs inside – such as muddy paw prints and dog hair.

Hare coursers often travel in convoy with transit vans at the front and rear containing minders and the cars in between containing the employers

Hare coursers are criminals and give no consideration to landowners' property and crops. They often have a sophisticated information network and knowledge of the local rural area and they invariably know about vulnerable properties in the area, short cuts, and escape routes.

Violent confrontations can occur when participants are challenged and for this reason the public are advised not to approach them but to report the activity to the police. Vehicle descriptions and registration number are useful if these can be obtained without risk to the public.

 

Fish Seller Cold Calling In Orston:

An elderly Orston resident was coerced and conned into paying an exorbitant amount for the quantity of fish supplied.
The culprit was operating from a large white transit van.
 
If you are aware of suspicious traders in the village please call 101 and inform Neighbourhood Watch.

 

John Shilton
Principal NHW Co-ordinator
Bottesford Parish NHW
JohnS@BottesfordParishNHW.org.uk
Mobile: 07725636626

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