In March 2018, Graham launched the Country, Land & Business Association’s (CLA) national campaign against hare coursing with Holderness Farm Watch’s Hollie Harris. The focus of this campaign is the human costs of hare coursing, as farmers and their families have often felt intimidated by trespassers in the most isolated parts of the countryside.
In 2021, Graham helped the CLA secure a meeting with Zac Goldsmith, who had been appointed Animal Welfare Minister and is leading on the Government’s Animal Welfare Action Plan, which helped to convince the Minister of the need for legislative change to better target those taking part in hare coursing.
The Government has subsequently announced that it is considering increasing the maximum penalty for illegal coursing to an unlimited fine and a prison sentence of up to six months for these offences. These amendments will also give police the power to claim against the costs of kennelling seized dogs and will allow them to target persons suspected of ‘going equipped’ for hare coursing activities.
