17th February 2026
The moment a poacher was approached by officers after hunting hares with a dog has been shared by police.
The video shows rural task force police officers in land off Dane Road, Birchington, where they discover three dead animals.
They had been called to the fields after members of the public reported suspected poaching in progress.
Witnesses described seeing a man walking along the rural track carrying dead hares over his shoulder, accompanied by a white and brown lurcher dog, which was not on a lead.
A short time later, they also reported a green vehicle travelling along the track and stopping beside a hedgerow.
When officers arrived, they located the vehicle and the driver, who had fresh blood staining on his clothing, which he claimed was caused by an injury to his dog.
A search of the vehicle and surrounding area uncovered a monocular discarded in a nearby bush, which the man admitted belonged to him.
Officers also found three dead hares hidden under the hedgerow, about 10 feet from the vehicle.
He was arrested at the scene, and, when interviewed, admitted being at the location and confirmed ownership of both the dog and the monocular, but denied hunting hares and claimed he had remained on public footpaths.
Following a trial, Gavin Chapman, 48, of Longmete Road, Preston, was found guilty of being equipped for searching or pursuing hares with dogs.
He was sentenced at Margate Magistrates Court on January 30 and issued with a national Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) lasting two years.
Under the order, Chapman must not own or be in control of a dog on private land without the landowner’s permission or walk a dog in public off a lead, unless the dog is muzzled, anywhere in England or Wales.
He also received an 18‑month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay a fine.
After the hearing police sgt Darren Walshaw welcomed the restrictions imposed by the court, saying it was a positive outcome for the rural community.
“His prosecution sends a clear message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and those who choose to engage in hare coursing should expect legal action,” he said.
“Hare coursing is illegal across the UK, and we will continue to pursue the toughest penalties available to us. It is not a harmless past time. It is a deliberate and cruel act inflicted on a protected species.”
Kent Police is part of the Operation Galileo – a nationwide effort to combat illegal hare coursing.
If the hare coursing is a ‘live’ incident, dial 999.
Otherwise contact http://www.kent.police.uk/ report to report crime that does not require an emergency response, for example if hare coursing has taken place and the suspects are no longer at the scene. Reference Op Galileo when reporting.
lock the murdering bastards up they are murderers and should be treated as such