More than two dozen people charged in Cambridgeshire hare coursing investigation

More than two dozen people have been charged in connection with a spate of hare coursing and violent disorder in January.

Cambridgeshire Police launched an investigation into widespread criminal activity on 25 January which included reports of hare coursing, criminal damage and dangerous driving in Fordham, Ely, Littleport, Chatteris, Doddington, Wimblington, Welney, Prickwillow and Manea.

In total, 43 people were arrested and 25 of them have been charged with a total of 39 offences.

They will appear in court in September.

• Footage shows 4x4s racing through fields and along rural roads in Cambridgeshire in January

Officers were supported by 10 other forces, including Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Essex, as well as the National Rural Crime Unit and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

A further 17 people have been issued with community protection warnings and community protection notices, which include banning them from being in possession or control of any dog on private land without the owner's written permission and not driving, or being driven, onto private or agricultural fields without written permission.

Det Insp Matthew Selves, who has led the investigation, said: "We do not underestimate the impact January's events had on our communities and the devastation they left behind.

"From the outset, we committed to a thorough investigation, and the charging of 25 individuals demonstrates the scale of our response and determination to hold those responsible to account.”

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