TWO dogs have been seized and three men detained on suspicion of hare coursing following a helicopter chase.
Two incidents happened yesterday, Tuesday, November 19, in fields in the Laverstoke and Tufton area.
A blue Mitsubishi Shogun was spotted damaging crop fields and police investigating this incident were alerted to another nearby involving a silver Volkswagen Golf.
A police helicopter arrived and located three men with dogs on farmland near Bullington Cross, who then ran into a woodland and tried to escape.
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The helicopter pursued, landing nearby and a police officer detained one of the men before further officers provided assistance and detained the other two.
Two dogs were seized, along with the phones of the three suspected hare coursers.
A statement from PC Stanbrook, of the Country Watch team, reads: "Yesterday afternoon, Basingstoke and Winchester Rural areas had two suspected Hare coursing `incidents very close to each other.
"The first report was of a Blue Mitsubishi Shogun damaging planted crop fields in the Laverstoke and Tufton area. Whilst Police were searching the area a second incident was reported nearby involving a Silver VW Golf.
"The Police Helicopter, known as NPAS (National Police Air Service) arrived just as the report came in. It managed to locate 3 males walking with dogs on farmland near to Bullington Cross, next to the A303 and A34. The males all ran into a wooded area. Then they made a break for it and ran across the fields. Unluckily for them the Helicopter followed and then landed and a Police Officer in the helicopter detained one of the males. Other Officers then managed to detain the other males.
"We have now seized two dogs and seized the three suspects phones. The investigation continues.
"Hampshire Police take a tough stance on Hare Coursing and will always look to seize the dogs to prevent further Hare coursing.
"This has been a great team effort, my thanks to the members of public, Basingstoke Rural and Winchester Officers who assisted. Of course well done NPAS too! That is not something you see everyday!"
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