Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle hare coursing in rural areas.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England and Wales only.

This Government recognises the importance of tackling rural crimes such as Hare Coursing.

The previous Government made changes to address illegal hare coursing through a package of measures in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. This broadened the circumstances in which police can investigate and bring charges for hare coursing related activity.

Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police. This is in line with their duties to keep the peace and protect communities.