Dorset Police news site

A targeted operation by the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team (RCT) was conducted last week to tackle illegal poaching and hare coursing across the county.

From Monday 21 April to Sunday 27 April 2025 officers from Dorset Police ran Op Galileo, which aims to disrupt illegal poaching and hare coursing activity across the county.

From January to December 2023, there were 199 reports of poaching incidents across the county, which included reports of suspicious vehicles and suspicious circumstances believed to be involved in illegal poaching. This fell by 25 per cent in 2024 with only 150 poaching incidents reported.

Illegal poaching and hare coursing has a significant impact on the rural communities of Dorset, with many residents reporting damage to livestock, crops, hedges and fences as result of offenders’ actions. The recovery and repair of property in relation to such incidents sees farmers and landowners incur sizeable costs worth thousands of pounds, which can have a knock-on effect to the production of food across the county.

Op Galileo also sees Dorset Police work collectively with neighbouring forces when necessary, whereby intelligence is shared ahead of targeted patrols being carried out in rural areas.

Police Sergeant Natalie Skinner, of the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, said: “While incidents such as this are tackled all year round, we continue to support Op Galileo, with our overarching aims being to support members of our rural communities by gathering intelligence on incidents of suspected poaching and hare coursing and holding offenders responsible for their actions.

“As a team, we conducted proactive patrols in areas known to be of interest for illegal poaching and hare coursing.

“There is strong evidence to suggest that this type of crime is linked to organised crime groups. Therefore, we want our high-visibility patrols to send a clear message to potential offenders that if you are thinking of indulging in illegal poaching or hare coursing in Dorset, you will be identified and held accountable.

“We are pleased to report that we have seen a significant reduction in the number of incidents reported to us, as well as the recent prosecution of a 52-year-old man who was found guilty of hare coursing offences in the Dorchester area. This demonstrates that our tactics and operations are working, and we are continually committed to reducing rural crime across the county.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset, David Sidwick added: “I want to thank the Rural Crime Team for their continued commitment to reduce poaching and bring perpetrators to justice.

“Wildlife crimes, like poaching cause untold suffering to animals, and there is also a financial and emotional impact on those who are physically or verbally threatened in defence of their land. 

“The results show the Rural Crime Team’s presence is proving effective in driving poachers out of Dorset and I will do all I can to support the work they are doing. We have taken great strides forward in tackling wildlife crime since I took office in 2021, but we must maintain momentum and use the full force of the law against those perpetrating such vile crimes.”

If you have any information or have seen something that doesn’t seem quite right, please report it to Dorset Police.

Call 999 if a crime is in progress, or 101 to provide information in a non-emergency situation. You can also provide intelligence via the Dorset Police website, visit: https://www.dorset.police.uk/