Heavily-armed hare coursers live-streaming chases to gamblers in China now face tougher penalties.

New laws give police the power to seize more dogs and the courts the ability to order unlimited fines - and even prison time.

The changes to hare coursing law within the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act were given Royal Assent yesterday (Thursday, April 28), meaning that they are now law.

Yesterday an MP told the House of Commons that farmers in his constituency are having to deal with heavily-armed hare coursers on their land who are filming the chases and sharing them, in real time, with gambling syndicates in China.

Rob Butler, Conservative MP for Aylesbury, said: "I’ve been very alarmed to hear of large-scale and dangerous hare coursing in my constituency where heavily-armed people are coming on to farmers’ land and they’re live-streaming these chases to China where there is heavy betting being put on the chases."

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Changes to hare coursing law within the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act include increasing the maximum penalty for trespassing in pursuit of game to six months' in prison.

Two new criminal offences have also been introduced, trespass with the intention of using a dog to search for or pursue a hare and being equipped to trespass with the intention of using a dog to search for or pursue a hare.

Illegal encampment have also been addressed. It is now a criminal offence if people who do not leave when asked to do so by the landowner or tenant.

Those breaking the law can expect to find their property - including vehicles - seized by police and can be fined up to £2,500 and imprisoned for up to three months.

NFU vice president David Exwood said: “Hare coursing and illegal encampment can both cause significant damage to farmland and wildlife, something farmers across the country experience all too often, with little repercussions for offenders.

"Their behavior can also be a source of great distress for farming families who feel vulnerable and threatened in their own homes.

“We know that both these crimes continue to take a toll on farming businesses and families, and we will continue to work with government and rural police forces to ensure these strengthened laws are utilised to deliver meaningful results – a decline in cases of rural crime.”