An 18-year-old man from Spalding and a 26-year-old man from Grantham were arrested today on suspicion of violent disorder after a weekend which saw suspected hare coursers wreak havoc across Fenland. The two men have also been arrested on suspicion of hare coursing.
Two other men were arrested earlier this weekend for hare coursing at Benwick – they were caught in March after police used a helicopter to trace their movements. Both were given community protection notices, effectively warning them against a repeat offence.
Failure to comply with a CPN can lead to a court summons and, on conviction, can result in a fine of up to Level 4, currently £2,500
In addition to the arrests a significant amount of property was also seized.
Cambridgeshire police said today they have also seized four vehicles, three in Grantham and one in Essex, as well as hare coursing equipment.
A force-led investigation was launched following multiple complaints of hare coursing, criminal damage and dangerous driving across Cambridgeshire.
Incidents were reported in Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington.
Cambridgeshire police said that today they were supported by police from Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Essex, as well as the National Rural Crime Unit and National Wildlife Crime Unit, in carrying out a number of arrest warrants across the region.
Chief Constable Nick Dean said: “I do not underestimate the impact Saturday’s events had on our communities and the devastation it has left behind. Earlier this week I committed to launching an investigation and bringing to justice those responsible’.
“We have a dedicated investigation team who have been working tirelessly reviewing the many pieces of information that have been coming into us since the weekend and have led to these arrests.”
Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, head of the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU), said: “What took place at the weekend across several forces is utterly disgraceful and a blatant disregard for both law and civilised society.
“The multi force response, with specialist support from two national units emphasises that it will not be tolerated and that we are committed to responding robustly.
“We hope today’s arrests sends a clear message to anyone involved in this kind of behaviour.”
Chief Constable Dean added: “Our work is ongoing to identify those responsible, however I hope today’s action provides some reassurance that we are fully investigating the criminality suffered by our communities last weekend.
“We have dedicated patrols in place this weekend and would encourage anyone concerned about further disorder to contact us.”
A video, widely distributed via Facebook, reveals the extent of just part of the havoc caused at the weekend.
A ‘convoy’ of suspected hare coursers was spotted in Wisbech, Littleport, Welney, Elm, Christchurch and Doddington driving recklessly at high speed and terrifying villagers.
With police unable to stop them, they cocked a snook at anything or anyone who stood in their path: none dared.
“Ten cars through Tipps End about midday -many of the drivers wearing balaclavas,” said a resident. “I reported it via 999”.
Manea councillor Charlie Marks said his village was targeted by the convoy of vehicles – with one car dumped there after it broke down.
“There could easily have been someone killed,” he said. “The group seemed to be trying to outdo each other by their speed and dangerous driving.
“They had no thought for any pedestrian or anyone using the roads.”
Cllr Marks said one local farm was at the receiving end of damage to vehicles and cars roaring across fields, oblivious to the damage they were causing.
Another villager said: “This was definitely nothing to do with hare coursing, for that they do it on foot and with dogs. This is just wanton destruction for laughs.
“And they know there is no chance they will be caught.
Another witness said: “The way they was driving I’m surprised they didn’t kill someone.
“They came from a field at the bottom of our dead end road and drove so fast down our little road!! Good job all the children wasn’t playing outside. They didn’t even stop to look at the end of the road just pulled out didn’t even slow down!”
One villager near Welney said; “We had around 25-30 cars behind our house this morning. Never seen anything like it in the 30 years we’ve been here. There were three police cars!”
MP Steve Barclay reacted to the mayhem by organising a public meeting in Manea British Legion club on Monday. Police and crime commissioner Darryl Preston and the Chief Constable also turned up.
“What happened was abhorrent – it’s criminality,” said Mr Preston.
Manea resident Robert Sears, a former Conservative councillor, said at the meeting: “’I haven’t seen lawlessness like this anywhere in the world” he told the meeting today, describing his how he confronted 25 muddy 4x4s driving towards him.
The price he paid for his stoic stance. His car was rammed.
“I had 25 muddied up 4x4s driving at me on my narrow, single road, opposite my house,” he said.
“I went out to face them as I think that’s what needs to be done, hence my car getting rammed.
“I wasn’t too bothered about this, though, as it’s our property that has been violated – and that’s what I really don’t like.
He told police chiefs at the meeting: “You have failed this community.”
