CANDIDATES for the Wiltshire Police Crime and Commissioner role have responded to fears over hare coursing.

Those in the running to replace Angus Macpherson on May 6 have promised to tackle the issue across the county as farmers become increasingly worried.

Independent Mike Rees told BBC Wiltshire: “The way to deal with these people is strong policing. Don’t be afraid to use your powers, be supported by your leaders in using those powers, and getting these people’s faces. Then they will go somewhere else, but the sentencing does need to be stronger.”

Hare coursing is a sport using dogs, usually, greyhounds to hunt hares, which is illegal under the Hunting Act 2004. It can cause damage to farmers’ land and crops.

Councillor for the central ward in Swindon, Junab Ali, is Labour’s candidate.

He added: “In recent times a specialist rule has been established in Wiltshire, I would have this strengthened. I pledge to have more police presence, and that means engaging with all communities, rural communities, and farmers.

"Firstly, let me make it clear, I am implacably imposed on hunting animals for sport. Some of the keys to attacking hare coursing are ensuring the farmers and public know what to look for, how to report it, and ensuring police will react in a timely manner. Hare courses do it because they can get away with it. We need to ensure that offenders, especially repeat offenders, are prosecuted for the cruelty they cause and the criminal damage they do to farmers’ land and crops.”

Liberal Democrat and farmer Liz Webster said: “As a farmer living rurally, I’ve been a victim of hare coursing regularly. Unfortunately, quite often, you wake up and realise it has happened, it normally happens when you’re asleep.

"Reporting is a problem, I am committed to bolstering the rural crime team and I will start by appointing a travel liaison officer, so there will be better communications between the communities to make sure that we are keeping on top of these criminal gangs. I would like to improve the reporting system, I’ve used to 101 system myself when we’ve had these events happen here on the farm, it’s not altogether reliable.”