by Nic Rigby BBC News, Norwich

Hare-coursing is set to become illegal in February

There are fears that banning hare-coursing, which has its strongest support in East Anglia and the North West, will stretch police resources.

But a chief constable has told BBC News that the new law will be acted on and hare-coursers could be jailed.

The news comes as BBC Inside Out looks at legal and illegal coursing.

Dealing with illegal coursing has become a regular chore for farmers in East Anglia.

The sport is a feature of life in parts of Bedfordshire, Cambrdgeshire, Essex, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Suffolk.

In some cases gangs of up to 80 men have descended on fields without permission to take part in the activity, threatening and intimidating anyone who stood in their way.

If they can't control it (illegal coursing) now, what possible chance have they got if this legislation comes into effect? Sir Mark Prescott, horse trainer and hare-courser

Former Pc Danny Cracknell, who retired in November as Norfolk Police wildlife crime officer, had to try to enforce the present laws against illegal hare-coursing.

He is concerned that the new law could damage the relationship between officers and farmers, as it will be easier to prosecute the owner of the land where the event takes place than the hare-coursers.

"My biggest fear is that the land owner (where an illegal hare-coursing event has taken place) will end up being easy prey," he said.

Mr Cracknell, who now works for Farmwatch, believes the same areas that have had problems in the past with illegal coursing will face even more problems.

"The existing illegal hare-coursing laws they have not been able to police 100%. It will stretch the resources," he said.

There is a long history of hare-coursing in Britain

But Alistair McWhirter, the Chief Constable of Suffolk and rural spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said he believed the number of possible hare-coursing lawbreakers was being "over-hyped".

"We will enforce the legislation. People should be under no illusions. We will be taking action in relation to hare-coursing," he said.

"Hare-coursing is more obvious than some forms of hunting, with the coursing taking place in open spaces."

Sir Mark Prescott, successful Newmarket horse trainer and hare-courser, questioned whether local police will be able to enforce the new law.

Dogs at a hare-coursing event in Cambridgeshire

"Police can't control illegal coursing, which is poaching," he said.

"If they can't control it now, what possible chance have they got if this legislation comes into effect?"

Nasaar Raja Ahmed, who in November ran his dog at a National Coursing Club event at Fulbourne, near Cambridge, said he was committed to continuing hare-coursing.

"No-one really kills for fun - we just want to see them run, and meet everybody. It's not just about the dogs, it's about the people," said West Midlands-based Mr Ahmed.

'Way of life'

Asked if he would continue after the ban comes into force, he said: "Yes, I will and the police are thinking it's a law they will find difficult to enforce."

But the new laws were welcomed by an RSPCA animal charity spokesman: "This new legislation reflects modern society's abhorrence of cruelty to wild animals."