In December 2015 Lancashire police were the first force in the country to obtain a Criminal Behaviour Order against persons

Three residents of Merseyside; James REID 01/10/84, Liam DOHERTY 22/05/90 and Neil WALSH 25/08/86. Were given an order prohibiting them from entering approx. 36,000 acres of Downholland and Halsall with any sight-hound (the type used to course hares) or being with any person in that area with a sight-hound.

In February all three males were found on land in Burscough, outside their prohibited area, but were summonsed for daytime poaching offences. In April Walsh was found in Altcar with his dog in the prohibited area.

In June, Walsh pleaded guilty to both offences and Reid and Doherty pleaded guilty to their poaching offence.

Lancashire Police applied for an extension of their existing Criminal Behaviour Order which Preston Magistrates court saw fit to approve. Now Neil Walsh is banned from all of Lancashire county with any sight-hound unless travelling in motor car on the motorway network or being with any person with a sight-hound in Lancashire for a period of five years.

Reid and Doherty have the same conditions for period of three years. All received significant fines in addition.

This is the third CBO Lancashire Police have been granted and sends the strongest message to poachers and hare coursers that their barbaric behaviour will not be tolerated and we will use all the tools at our disposal.