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NFU vice-president Rachel Hallos said collaboration was critical in clamping down on rural crime, agricultural thefts and hare coursing, and called on the Government to implement a national rural crime strategy

The National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) is encouraging anyone who may have been a victim of hare coursing to respond to the Ministry of Justice's online consultation

"We will simply will not accept this barbaric activity and anyone who comes to the county hare coursing can expect to face the full force of the law"

"We understand the true impact of hare coursing on our rural communities, especially farmers who are trying to go about their daily business"

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary has said it expects to see a rise in hare coursing incidents over the next few weeks

One of the hare coursers had travelled over 140 miles to pursue in rural crime

"Notwithstanding the real cruelty and horror of these offences, the farmers have their land and crops damaged and that can have long-term financial consequences"

Lincolnshire Police said the four men had caused 'great distress' to the farmer

Cleveland Police said three men had been caught hare coursing on private farmland in the Cleveland area with the help of a police drone operator

"Poachers do not come to catch game to take for the pot. It is a sport to them. It is a killing machine."