RURAL police officers tackling a surge in hare coursing and poaching activity have seized two vehicles including one that had crashed after driving through multiple fields

Dorset Police Rural Crime Team teamed up with Hampshire Police and members of the community on Wednesday to target rural offenders as part of Operation Galileo.

The team started by visiting a farm that had been targeted by hare coursers the previous night.

The offenders had crashed their vehicle after driving over multiple fields and abandoned it after being disturbed.

Officers seized the vehicle in which they found the V5C logbook – a document issued by the DVLA to the registered owner of the vehicle.

(Image: Dorset Police)

In a humorous social media post, police said: “Top tip to those involved – it’s probably not a good idea to leave your filled out V5C in the car when using it in crime… we’ll see you soon.”

(Image: Dorset Police)

They added: “Later in the shift a vehicle evaded us in the Verwood area. The driver was able to flee into an address before we could grab them.

“On entering the address, we located a person who was wanted for failing to appear at court for theft offences. This person was swiftly arrested and taken to custody.

“The vehicle used to evade us had clearly been up to no good and was showing as having no insurance, so it was seized.”

(Image: Dorset Police)

Throughout the evening, officers also stop checked several other vehicles and “dealt with multiple incidents”.