THREE men have been arrested following an incident of hare coursing in West Oxfordshire, Thames Valley Police say. 

Officers were called to an incident at around 5pm on Wednesday, August 14, on a field near Kelmscott, where members of the public had reported seeing hare coursing activity taking place.

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Three men - aged 40, 37 and 26 - have been arrested on suspicion of trespass in pursuit of game. The 26-year-old is from Telford, with the other two men from Evesham. They have all since been released under investigation. 

Five dogs were also seized at the scene.

The arrests follow a public warning to Oxfordshire residents about hare coursers. 

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Investigating officer PC Rob Webb, based at Chipping Norton, said: “This is a great result and shows that the public play a vital role in helping us to tackle hare coursing in rural areas.

“Hare coursing causes considerable damage to fields, crops, hedgerows and gates and can impact livelihoods. By working with the rural community we can disrupt those who choose to participate in this activity.

“I would encourage the public to report any suspicious activity via our online form or by calling our non-emergency number 101. If a crime is in progress or a life is in danger always call us on 999.”