Lincolnshire Police has launched Operation Galileo 2019/2020 to tackle hare coursing.

The number of reports of hare coursing has significantly decreased in Lincolnshire since 2016. The drones return to the force’s Operation Galileo effort, to tackle rural crime, along with the additional Ford Rangers and other marked & unmarked 4×4 vehicles which the force uses to respond to incidents.

Lincolnshire has been seizing Hare Coursing dogs for a number of years, in fact [the force has] seized more than any other force in the country, and will continue to do so for 2019/20.

Chief Inspector Phil Vickers, Lincolnshire’s lead for rural crime, says:

“We are in good shape for this season. Last season was very positive and we are looking at building on that, while also improving our efforts to fight other rural crimes such as theft of machinery and dangerous driving.

“People who live in our rural communities play a vital part in helping us gather intelligence, and we really need their support.

“The big news for 2019/20 is bringing together the top 12 Hare Coursing forces across the country under the Op Galileo banner – We are targeting the Offenders who cause greatest harm to our rural communities by sharing information and intelligence across the whole of the UK.

“The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) have been supporting our analytical work, and we are in a position to use legislation against the key offenders in a way that has not been done before.

“As Op Galileo has a national footing, this offers more opportunities to use technology and stop offenders before they reach our fields – we will seize their vehicles, cash and property whenever and wherever the law allows.

Source: Lincolnshire Police

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