Written question asked by Lord Robathan (Conservative) on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 July 2025. It was answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Monday, 30 June 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Hare Coursing

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government how many reports have been made to police of illegal hare coursing since the Hunting Act 2004 came into force.

Answer: Hare coursing or poaching are not crimes which the police must record and notify to the Government. Where violence or intimidation are part of any hare coursing or poaching the most common crimes that could be recorded would be violence with injury, violence without injury or public order crimes where threats are used. However, there is no means of identifying if these are connected to hare coursing or poaching and for this reason the Government does not hold the information.

Secondary information