Operation Dornier has seen the start of proceedings against 191 people since last summer's launch.

The crackdown involved the setting up of a 24-hour confidential hotline for people to ring to report wrongdoers.

Certain events were legal when the campaign began. Now hare coursing is banned.

The act which came into effect on 18 February makes the hunting with dogs of certain wild mammals an offence.

�26,000 in fines

Inspector Richard Lowings who has led the operation said: "We are delighted with the success of Operation Dornier, both in terms of the reduction in the number of illegal hare coursers coming to Cambridgeshire and in the reassurance we have brought to the rural communities of the county.

"The decline is significantly lower than last year, with 150 reports in March 2004 compare with just nine in March 2005."

Penalties for those who have appeared before the courts include forfeiture orders for vehicles, dogs and cash.

So far, 35 driving disqualifications have been imposed on passengers as well as drivers and fines totalling more than �26,000 have been handed out.