Hare coursers forced to ‘abandon ship’ after one of their cars burst into flames when leaving Ely
Hare coursers left one of their vehicles after it caught fire when leaving Ely – police are investigating the incident. Picture: Twitter / @EastCambsCops - Credit: Archant
Hare coursers who came to the Ely area were forced to abandon one of their cars when it caught fire – police are currently investigating the incident.
It’s currently unclear if the blaze was intentional or not but Cambridgeshire officers have confirmed the vehicle belonged to hare coursers.
In a post on social media, a spokesman for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: “Hare coursers who came to the Ely area had to leave one of their cars behind, when it caught fire.
“It is unclear whether or not this was intentional.”
Hare coursing is where people use dogs to chase, catch and kill hares. Hunting wild mammals with a dog is illegal in the UK under the Hunting Act 2004.
A spokesman said: “Hare coursing usually takes place at dawn or dusk and tends to occur during the month of September, when large areas of land are crop-less.
“Coursers will often walk along the edge of fields to frighten a hare into the open, as well as using dogs like greyhounds and lurchers.
Most Read
- 1 Boys, 13 and 17 killed in horror BMW crash near A47 in Peterborough
- 2 'Normally unacceptable' barn demolition wins green light
- 3 Shoplifter who stole from store 10 times in five weeks handed CBO
- 4 Motorcyclist caught ‘speeding over 100mph’ past police near Ely
- 5 Ely Heroes winner, Alison, attends royal garden party after three-year wait
- 6 Man in his 40s suffers ‘life-changing injuries’ in major crash on A14
- 7 Pupils ensure 'Eel-izabeth' comes to life for Queen's Platinum Jubilee
- 8 New March station will 'help people to use petrol and diesel cars less'
- 9 'It's a gem of an untold story' - Ely author, Ellee shares new novel
- 10 REVEALED: The 'gang of five' who want Dr Nik Johnson gone
Anyone found to be involved in hare coursing can receive a fine of up to £5,000 by a Magistrates Court.
Officers are also authorised to seize and detain vehicles until a court hearing, under section 30 of the Game Act 1831.