"Unprecedented" hare coursing crime spree across Fens

An investigation has launched after an "unprecedented" Fenland crime spree.

Hare coursing, criminal damage and dangerous driving was reported in Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington on Saturday 25 January 2025.

Cambridgeshire Police said "the scale of the hare coursing event is unprecedented and responding to the incidents was difficult".

One vehicle from the incident was seized and hundreds of images have been received that officers will be using to identify those involved. 

Local policing commander Superintendent Ben Martin:

"We understand the damage, concern and fear these incidents have brought to our rural communities and are sorry we were unable to do more to stop the activities of these people at the time."

"The information we had in advance of this gathering had very limited detail, so a force-wide dispersal order was put in place. 

"However, due to the scale of the incident and the multiple locations where offences took place, as well as a significantly demanding weekend elsewhere in the county, meant we didn’t have the resources available to deal with every report we received from members of the public."