More than two dozen charged in hare coursing probe

Cambridgeshire Police's chief constable previously apologised for what he described as a failure to deal with rural crime

Twenty-five people, including a 13-year-old boy, have been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into hare coursing and violent disorder.

Dozens of 4x4s were reported to have descended on fields and villages across the Cambridgeshire Fens on 25 January.

At the time of the incident, the force's chief constable, Nick Dean, apologised for what he said was a "failure by the police" to deal with rural crime.

Cambridgeshire Police led an investigation into the into the criminal activity which included a series of arrests and seizures.

Rural communities affected by the hare coursing included Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington.

Farmers said their crops were torn up and property was damaged.

Det Insp Matthew Selves said: "We do not underestimate the impact January's events had on our communities and the devastation they left behind.

"From the outset, we committed to a thorough investigation, and the charging of 25 individuals demonstrates the scale of our response and determination to hold those responsible to account."

Police forces involved in the case included Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Thames Valley, West Mercia and Leicestershire.

Also involved were forces from the West Midlands, Northampton and Essex Police, as well as the National Rural Crime Unity (NRCU) and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Community protection warnings were given to 17 people, preventing them from having dogs off a lead, having air weapons and shouting, swearing or intimidating people in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent.

A total of 43 people were arrested, and one juvenile was voluntarily interviewed.

Of those, 25 people aged between 13 and 51 have been charged with a combination of 39 offences.

They will appear in court in September.

Those charged were from Cambridge, Spalding, Wellingborough, Grays, Grantham, Bagworth and Thornton, Barrow Upon Soar, Wrexham, Slough, Ingatestone, Solihull, Reading and Stourport on Severn.