Appeal for Witnesses to Hare Coursing Incident

Officers from our Roads Policing team responded to multiple reports of poaching on land near to the A161 just before Swinefleet in Goole at around 10am on Monday, 16 February 2026.

Following the reports, it is believed two vehicles, a silver Mercedes and blue Subaru, left the A161 heading towards Eastoft, and patrol officers alongside Roads Policing officers sighted both vehicles nearby.

When initially requested to stop by officers, both drivers reportedly failed to stop, and a short pursuit ensued with the two vehicles in convoy with one another.

The pursuit for the silver Mercedes came to a conclusion near Scunthorpe, leading to three people allegedly being seen fleeing from the vehicle on foot in an attempt to evade officers. 

Officers swiftly caught up, and a 14-year-old and 16-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of poaching, trespassing with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs, dangerous driving, failing to stop, and criminal damage, and a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of poaching, driving dangerously, failing to stop.

All three have since been conditionally bailed pending further investigation. 

Enquiries remain ongoing to locate the Subaru and identify all those involved in the incident, and we would ask anyone who was in the area at around the time it is believed to have occurred, to please contact us on our non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference 26*21819.

Alternatively, if you wish to report anonymously, you can do so via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.