A condition imposed on five men bailed by Cambridgeshire police following complaints of hare coursing, criminal damage and dangerous driving is that they must “not shout at, swear at, or intimidate any persons in any of the 12 counties”.
The ban applies to Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Nottinghamshire.
An 18-year-old man from Spalding and a 26-year-old man from Grantham were arrested on Friday morning (31 January) on suspicion of violent disorder and attending a hare coursing event.
Police revealed yesterday (Tuesday) that they have made three further arrests in connection with their investigation into violent disorder and criminality that occurred across Cambridgeshire on 25 January.
Two men aged 22 and 51 were arrested in Essex while a 46-year-old man was arrested in Peterborough.
All five have been released on bail to return to Thorpe Wood Police Station at a later date, with conditions that also include:
- Not to be in possession of, be in control of, or be in the company of any dog on private land without the owner’s written permission.
- When in possession of, in control of, or in the company of any dog, said dog must be on a lead.
- Not to be in a vehicle with any dog, whilst outside of a five-mile radius of your home address, unless for a pre-arranged veterinary appointment.
- Not to be in possession of a catapult or shot, such as ball bearing, and/or an air weapon or any part of an air weapon.
- Not to drive or be driven in a mechanically propelled vehicle onto private fields or agriculture field belonging to another person without written permission presentable to an officer.
- And a ban on using any public spaces, footpaths, bridleways, or other such like areas belonging to the local authority or another unspecified person with the intention to hare course.
A sixth man has since been arrested in connection with the investigation into violent disorder and criminality that occurred across Cambridgeshire on 25 January.
The 30-year-old was arrested in Essex this afternoon (Wednesday) on suspicion of violent disorder and attending a hare coursing event and is currently in custody at Thorpe Wood Police Station in Peterborough.
One cocky traveller filmed himself and others as they tore through a Cambridgeshire field, destroying crops, was heard laughing as he raced against a dozen other vehicles on the outskirts of Manea. Car (centre) later abandoned in ManeaA force-led investigation was launched following multiple complaints of hare coursing, criminal damage, and dangerous driving in various parts of the county.
Incidents took place in Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington and police continue to appeal for the public’s help in identifying those involved.
Local policing commander Superintendent Ben Martin said: “Our investigation team have been working tirelessly reviewing the many pieces of information that have been coming into us which have led to these arrests, which demonstrates the continuing commitment by the constabulary to bring the offenders to justice.”
Police also reported this week that they have seized four vehicles, three in Grantham and one in Essex, as well as hare coursing equipment, in connection with the investigation.
Supt Martin added: “We still have a lot of work to do to bring those responsible for this abhorrent criminality to justice but are working closely with our policing colleagues across the country to do all we can and will continue to make arrests in the coming days and weeks.”
Anyone with any information and footage that could assist in identifying those involved is asked to email OpCalluna@cambs.police.uk or contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
