RURAL landowners and police have called for a crackdown on "abhorrent" hare coursing gangs who live stream their crimes so others can make bets.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) say action needs to be taken against the practice, which sees dogs compete against each other in pursuit of a hare.

The activity was outlawed by the 2004 Hunting Act, but now often takes place illegally and without the permission of the landowner. In some cases, hunts are live streamed, and bets worth thousands of pounds placed on the outcome.

There have been increasing reports of the issue in rural East Dorset. On one occasion, coursers set their dogs on captured, live rabbits at Broadstone recreation ground in broad daylight.

PC Claire Dinsdale, coordinator of Dorset Police's rural crime team, said "violent, often intimidating males" are routinely behind coursing.

"These people are often well-known to local police for acquisitive crime, such as burglary, thefts and rogue trading, as well as for domestic abuse and violent crime," she said.

"They can travel long distances and across different counties, showing a degree of organisation, planning and co-ordination."

Hare coursers target areas of arable land where populations of brown hares are known to be high. Offenders may also run dogs on deer.

In Dorset, there have been reports of coursing in the Cranborne Chase area of East Dorset, and around other villages including Sixpenny Handley.

Lurchers, greyhounds and bull terrier breeds are often used to chase down the hare.

Offenders either trespass on foot or drive vehicles across arable land, causing damage to crops.

CLA president Tim Breitmeyer said: “Hare coursing is an abhorrent crime that many of our members have been victims of. Coursers often use threatening and intimidating behaviour, criminal violence and injury, which is wholly unacceptable.

“The crime raises concerns about animal cruelty, damages crops, private property and has a detrimental impact within rural communities."

Many Dorset farmers and landowners are already taking steps to protect their land. Some have dug trenches a metre deep around their property to prevent coursers from accessing their land.

However, offenders can bolt crop locks, lift gates from the hinges or drive through new saplings. Coursers who are challenged have been known to return and cause criminal damage, including arson. Some carry weapons.

PC Dinsdale said: "It's really important every incident is reported to police.

"Call 999 if a crime is in progress, and try to get registrations and descriptions of those involved if it's safe to do so.

"This allows us to target the hotspot areas, deploy resources and build up intelligence on who is doing what and the vehicles they are using."

In 2016, Victor Mabey, then 70 and of Pembroke Road, Poole, and Ty Anthony Warren, then 54 and of Belben Road, Poole, were convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs.

Mabey also pleaded guilty to possession of a lock knife in a public place.

Police were called to reports that the men were coursing in fields near the Ashley Wood Golf Club in Blandford.

Mabey and Warren were both ordered to pay £150 fines for the hunting charges, with Mabey handed a further £100 fine for possession of the knife.

Each man was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £30 victim surcharge.