Legislation – Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
Changes to legislation:
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, Section 63 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 December 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.![]()
Changes to Legislation
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 63:
- Pt. 2 Ch. 3A inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 28
- s. 44F inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 29
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
- Pt. 2 Ch. 3A inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 28
- s. 44F inserted by 2024 c. 21 s. 29
PART 2Prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime
CHAPTER 4Other provisions
Offences relating to hares etc
63Trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs etc
(1)
A person commits an offence if they trespass on land with the intention of—
(a)
using a dog to search for or to pursue a hare,
(b)
facilitating or encouraging the use of a dog to search for or to pursue a hare, or
(c)
enabling another person to observe the use of a dog to search for or to pursue a hare.
(2)
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that they had a reasonable excuse for the trespass mentioned in that subsection.
(3)
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, to a fine or to both.
(4)
In relation to an offence committed before the coming into force of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for certain summary offences: England and Wales), the reference in subsection (3) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months.