Hare coursing has been illegal in the UK since 2005, under The Hunting Act 2004.

The true scale of hare coursing in England and Wales may not be known due to a culture of underreporting, the National Farmers Union (NFU) said at a meeting with 31 police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Farmers affected by this crime face threatening behaviour, violence and intimidation. However, NFU says farmers are reporting “dramatic increases” in all rural crime, with hare coursing in particular causing huge costs and damage.

The organisation, which represents farmers in England and Wales, said a dedicated policing team is needed to better tackle rural crime. More consistent policing and sentencing could also address the issue of ‘criminal tourism’, where perpetrators travel long distances to target businesses, it said.

Meanwhile, the government was urged to form a cross-departmental task force for tackling rural crime.

NFU deputy president Minette Batters called for a collaborative approach from the government, police and justice system. She praised the “willing co-operation” from the police and CPS who attended the meeting.

“There needs to be robust action against hare coursers to end this blight on our countryside and ensure that farmers do not continue to be targeted by criminals,” she added.

Hare coursing has been illegal in the UK since 2005, under The Hunting Act 2004. Hare coursers generally walk along fields, prompting the hares to run out into the open so that the dogs - usually greyhounds or other sighthounds - can hunt them.