PART 2

Prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime
CHAPTER 4

Other provisions

Offences relating to hares etc

Trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs etc
63
1
A person commits an offence if they trespass on land with the intention of—
a
using a dog to search for or to pursue a hare,
b
facilitating or encouraging the use of a dog to search for or to pursue a hare, or
c
enabling another person to observe the use of a dog to search for or to pursue a hare.
2
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for the trespass mentioned in that subsection.
3
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, to a fine or to both.
4
In relation to an offence committed before the coming into force of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for certain summary offences: England and Wales), the reference in subsection (3) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
S. 63 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 208(1)
S. 63 in force at 1.8.2022 by S.I. 2022/520, reg. 7