Hare coursing ‘sting’ shows need to report rural crime >More in The successful prosecution of a gang of illegal hare coursers following a sting operation should act as a reminder to farmers to report serious crime as it is happening, say rural police. Neighbouring farmers in the Candovers near Basingstoke, Hampshire, witnessed a grey Honda 4×4 vehicle driving across sown crop fields late at night. The quick-thinking landowners made several calls to their local rural beat officer, PC Andrew Reid, while the poaching incident was taking place. PC Reid happened to be patrolling the area at the time and the farmers mobilised their machinery to cut off any escape routes.