A police operation to clamp down on illegal hare coursing and poaching has been launched in the Sittingbourne area.

Officers will be working with farmers and gamekeepers to gather intelligence.

They are also appealing to the public to be their eyes and ears and to report any coursing or poaching taking place in their area.

The operation, which is being run by the Sittingbourne Neighbourhood Team, runs until January 31, 2010, and has two main aims - to reduce rural crime and raise the confidence of people living in the countryside.

The team has already reported six men for poaching offences after an incident in Iwade in September.

Although hare coursing was banned by the Hunting Act 2004 it is still taking place in remote areas with hundreds of pounds changing hands as people bet on which dogs, usually lurchers, would be the first to catch a hare.

Sgt Darren Walshaw, from the Neighbourhood Team, said “Hare coursing tends to start this time of year when the crops have been harvested.

“The people involved in this so-called sport can cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to newly planted crops.

"Hares are often left with broken legs or backs and last year three dogs were abandoned in fields by their owners.

“Both poaching and hare coursing are often linked to other kinds of rural crime, such as theft and burglary.

"We want offenders to know that neither will be tolerated and we will deal with offenders robustly.”

Anyone with information about rural crime should contact the Sittingbourne Neighbourhood Team on 01795 419120.