A man has been arrested and his van seized as police investigating hare coursing swooped on his vehicle.

Pictures from the Rural Crime Team show a dead hare in the passenger seat footwell of the man's van which was stopped by officers in a rural area near Dorchester yesterday afternoon. 

When the team opened the back of the vehicle they said they saw ‘a lot of blood and feathers.’

Dorset Echo:

The man's van and phone were seized, as well as various items associated with poaching offences.

Dorset Rural Crime Team said: "Following a report of hare-coursing in rural Dorchester a male has been detained.  His vehicle has been seized as well as his phone. In the back of the vehicle was a lot of blood and feathers,  and further items were seized that are associated with poaching offences."

In an update today, a spokesperson from Dorset Police said: "The incident occurred at around 12.45pm on Thursday October 19. The man was subsequently de-arrested and is due to attend for a voluntary interview."

Originally a sport in the 19th century, hare coursing is now an illegal activity. Dogs are used to chase, catch and kill hares – and is a serious problem in some rural areas. 

The Rural Crime Team has been recognised by the National Police Chiefs' Council as being 'the most innovative partnership to tackle serious and organised acquisitive crime.

Recently, Dorset Police announced the Rural Mounted Volunteers. This extension of horseback riders for the Rural Crime Team provides 'additional eyes and ears' within areas of the community that officers in vehicles would not be able to access.