§ Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will establish a power of arrest for persons found committing an offence under the Game Act 1831; [52287]
(2) what plans he has to amend the Game Act 1831 to give police more powers in relation to illegal hare coursing; [52286]
(3) if he will increase the penalties for illegal hare coursing to over –5,000; [52289]
(4) if he will establish a power of seizure of vehicles being used by illegal hare coursers. [52288]
§ Mr. DenhamThere is no immediate intention to strengthen legislation relating to illegal hare coursing or to increase relevant fines. The police and the courts already have extensive powers and substantial penalties available to them in dealing with this issue.
(i) The main Home Office (centrally managed, Immigration and Nationality Directorate, and managed by Merseyside Management unit) Entrants to Department Leavers Net intake EOs AOs/AAs EOs AOs/AAs EOs AOs/AAs Recruitment Other Recruitment Other June 2001 34 54 139 178 19 56 69 261 July 2001 50 9 215 12 14 46 45 181 August 2001 44 7 164 3 34 136 17 31 September 2001 23 13 197 14 46 172 -10 39 October 2001 10 11 145 3 16 60 5 88 November 2001 6 6 107 5 20 55 -8 57 December 2001 5 1 93 2 22 53 -16 42 January 2002 24 11 192 7 40 78 -5 121 February 2002 51 10 182 11 38 85 23 108 March 2002 27 5 185 3 58 142 -26 46 April 2002 33 7 110 2 12 21 28 91 Total 307 134 1,729 240 319 904 122 1,065 Note:
The word recruitment is used in the strict sense and does not include transfers from other Government Departments, transfer of functions, etc., which are in other.
(ii)Forensic Science Service Entrants to Departments Leavers Net intake EOs AOs/AAs EOs AOs/AAs EOs AOs/AAs Recruitment Other Recruitment Other June 2001 6 0 35 0 6 12 0 23 July 2001 1 0 28 0 0 12 1 16 August 2001 2 0 23 0 3 14 -1 9 September 2001 8 0 61 1 5 20 3 42 October 2001 5 1 28 1 5 11 1 18 November 2001 0 0 15 0 5 12 -5 3 December 2001 2 0 7 0 2 9 0 -2 January 2002 1 0 11 1 1 5 0 7 February 2002 19 0 23 1 4 5 15 19 March 2002 1 0 6 0 0 7 1 -1 April 2002 11 0 7 0 3 4 8 3 Total 56 244 4 34 111 23 137 Note:
224WThe word recruitment is used in the strict sense and does not include transfers from other Government Departments, transfer of functions, etc.. which are in other.Depending upon the exact circumstances the police may be able to arrest alleged offenders and a court may have the capacity to order forfeiture of vehicles used in committing or facilitating an offence.
Offences relevant to the disorder sometimes associated with illegal hare coursing are contained in the Public Order Act 1986. They include, for example, an offence of intentionally using threatening, abusing or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress. There is also the more serious offence of violent disorder which carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment.