A suspected hare courser was arrested and his vehicle seized after rural officers used a stinger device to halt a fleeing car on the A2.
Officers from the Rural Task Force were patrolling near Faversham on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, following reports of illegal poaching in the area.
Patrols identified a suspicious vehicle linked to hare coursing along Stalisfield Road, but the driver refused to pull over when signaled to stop, triggering a brief pursuit.
Police deployed a stinger to deflate the vehicle’s tyres on the A2, bringing the pursuit to a swift end. A search of the car uncovered illegal hunting equipment, including a catapult and a high-powered torch.
An 18-year-old man from Tonbridge was arrested at the scene and has since been released on conditional bail while inquiries continue.
Police Sergeant Ross Haybourne said:
‘This incident highlights the effectiveness of the Rural Task Force’s proactive patrols, which we have increased at a time when hare coursing and poaching becomes more prevalent.
‘As fields are harvested, opportunist poachers take advantage of the open flat space to spot and harm animals. Not only does this activity cause undue harm, distress and a painful death to wildlife, it can also disrupt farmers’ lives and damage property including fencing and sown seeds.
‘We as a force are dedicated to rooting out such offenders, and we urge anyone seeing anything suspicious to report it to us as soon as possible so we can act quickly.’