A POLICE campaign to catch criminals involved in illegal hare coursing in Lincolnshire aims to break last year's record successes.
Operation Galileo in 2012 saw nearly 300 people caught by the dedicated team set up to tackle the problem.
Now, as crops are harvested in the fields, reports are coming in of cruel gangs congregating with dogs.
In the summer, autumn and winter of 2012 a total of 186 men were prosecuted in the county – mainly under the Gaming or Hunting Acts.
Another 100 were given warnings because they were caught before any coursing could take place.
Operation Galileo leader Inspector Andy Ham said: "Evidence shows that people who participate in it are mainly involved in other forms of criminal activity and they usually come from outside Lincolnshire.
"Having a dedicated team enables us to not only respond quickly to reports and calls from the public, but it also improves the way in which we gather intelligence and analyse patterns. It consequently helps us deploy our policing resources to maximum effect.
"No one knows the countryside better than the communities themselves. The public are best placed to notice unfamiliar people and vehicles, so contact the police to report suspicious activities straight away."