The second reading of Richard Fuller MP's Private Members' Bill on Hare Coursing took place in the House of Commons last Friday. Richard's speech and the Minister's response can be watched here.
The Bill sets out to strengthen police powers in prosecuting the crime of hare coursing including a new offense of 'going equipped' for coursing. This reflects the difficulties that police often have in being at the right place and time to actually witness the crime taking place, especially given the rural nature of the activity.
It also proposed new and stricter penalties for those convicted of hare coursing with unlimited fines replacing the current maximum of £1,000 and also introduced for the first time, the scope for magistrates to impose custodial sentences of up to 6 months' imprisonment.
The other significant measure was to provide greater powers for the seizure of dogs used for hare coursing including crucially, the ability of police forces to recover the costs of kennelling seized dogs from the perpetrators of the criminality.
Speaking after the debate, Richard said:
Responding for the government, the Defra Minister Rebecca Pow reassured me that all of these measures were now included in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and that she fully expected these new laws to be in place by the summer before the next 'hare coursing season'.
Given these assurances, and coupled with her comments that training would be forthcoming for police forces on their new powers, together with guidance for magistrates on the increased penalties, I have confidence that these measures will soon become law and as such, was content to withdraw my Bill.
