Tougher hare coursing sentences announced - why new guidelines matter in the fight against poaching
Longer jail sentences and new orders welcomed by CLA in fight against coursing gangs. Learn why this is such a step forward for rural crime prevention
The Sentencing Council has published new guidelines for sentencing hare coursing offenders, with courts required to "fully recognise the harm these offences cause".
The CLA has welcomed the guidelines, which follow a 12-week public consultation and come into effect on 1 June.
Courts are also signposted to two new orders introduced by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Act 2022: a Dog Disqualification Order and a Recovery Order. These allow courts to disqualify offenders from owning a dog, and order offenders to repay the costs of a dog's seizure and detention.
Further changes include an increase in the sentencing starting points - with the top of the range for the most serious cases now set at 18 weeks, and improved signposting to compensation orders and confiscation orders.
'Clear message'
In response to the news, CLA national lead on poaching and hare coursing, Claire Wright, said:
"Hare coursing is a brutal crime with far-reaching consequences, so we welcome the new sentencing guidelines."
Coursing impacts not only wildlife but also the safety, wellbeing and livelihoods of those living and working in the countryside
"Courts must take cases seriously and deliver the strongest sentences possible to send out a clear message to offenders."
Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks-Kelly, Head of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, said:
“I welcome these guidelines and I am confident we can continue to improve the policing response to hare coursing and know that consistent justice will follow.
"Sentences across the country varies depending on several factors, and having guidance in place will lead to more proportionate and consistent sentencing across the UK and protect our communities.”
'A real game changer for rural communities'
It is relatively rare for genuinely big, positive news stories on rural crime prevention to come out. More often, we celebrate important but local successes when a police force secures a strong court result. The last piece of nationally significant progress was the Police, Crime & Sentencing Act 2022, which introduced the new offences of "trespass with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs and being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs."
That is why the latest announcement on new sentencing guidelines for hare coursing offences feels like a real game changer for rural communities.
There had been real concern within the CLA that the revised process might slow or even prevent new guidelines from coming forward. The process dictates that guidelines are issued by the Sentencing Council and, under recent reforms, cannot be published without the joint approval of both the Justice Secretary and the Lady Chief Justice, with either able to block their release.
In reality, just over a year after the CLA responded to the consultation on hare coursing sentencing, the guidelines have now been approved and are set to come into force on the 1st June 2026. This is an encouraging sign, not only in its own right but also for the National Rural Crime Network’s wider ambition to see more rural offences supported by clear, dedicated sentencing guidance for magistrates.
The introduction of specific sentencing guidance for hare coursing offences is a significant step forward in enabling the justice system to address this element of serious, organised rural criminality more effectively.
Hare coursing is not just a wildlife issue; it has a direct and damaging impact on rural communities. These new guidelines should help ensure a more consistent and robust approach to sentencing, regardless of where offenders are prosecuted.
Read the full Sentencing Guidelines here and follow the link below to explore the CLA's rural crime hub.
