ELEVEN people are facing court action on suspicion of hare coursing after the police received a number of tip-offs from the public last weekend.

Six men were held on Saturday October 2 after reports of hare coursing in a field near Haslingfield at about 10.30am. They were aged between 20 and 61.

The force helicopter was needed again on Sunday October 3 after reports of suspicious activity in Borough Fen, near Deeping St James.

Initial searches by officers on the ground proved unsuccessful at around noon but a Subaru Legacy was seized and two teenagers, aged 13 and 15, and three men aged 30, 32 and 33 were all stopped once the helicopter had located them.

Two boys and several dogs were also in the vehicle.

Sergeant Jo Reeves, from the Rural Community Action Team, said: “The latest incidents show the value of the force helicopter in rural policing, as we were able to search a much larger area in a short time.

“We have been able to deal with more incidents of hare coursing this year, mainly due to the fact people have been calling police to report suspicious activity.

“We rely on the public to be our eyes and ears in isolated areas and would encourage people to keep calling in with information.”

Anyone with information on rural crime should call the force control room on 0345 456 456 4, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.