WATCH: 'Masked Travellers' Attack Firefighters, Damage Fire Engines, Terrorize Villages and Destroy Property

Unprecedented crime spree in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire leaves residents in fear.

Emergency services are no strangers to danger, but the events that unfolded in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire last weekend were nothing short of appalling. In what police have described as an "unprecedented" crime spree, dozens of masked travellers wreaked havoc across multiple villages—terrorising residents, ransacking businesses, and, in an alarming turn, turning their aggression on firefighters.

The masked gang believed to be a group of hare coursers, ripped through fields in 4x4s, tore up farmland, and left terrified villagers in their wake. But their destruction didn’t stop there. As firefighters carried out a routine training exercise, the gang set its sights on them. Two fire engines were damaged, rendering them unusable in a county where every emergency vehicle is vital. The attack on emergency responders, who were there to prepare for life-saving situations, has sent shockwaves through both the emergency services community and local residents.

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Firefighters sign up for a job that involves running toward danger, but they do not expect to be the targets of deranged mob violence. The fact that a group of criminals not only disrupted their training but actively damaged fire engines—a resource crucial for public safety—is beyond reprehensible. Had a major fire or another emergency broken out while those fire engines were out of commission, the consequences could have been catastrophic.

The damage wasn’t limited to the fire service. The gang stole more than £200 worth of fuel, food, and drink from Isco Service Station in Wimblington. They also descended on farms, ripping through crops and destroying property. In Manea, farmer Robert Sears tried to confront them, only to have his car rammed in retaliation. Another farmer, Matthew Latter, was forced to barricade his family inside their home for over three hours as the gang took over his land. His seven-year-old daughter was left terrified as the masked men cut through gates, moved concrete blocks, and abandoned burnt-out vehicles on his property.

Local leaders have been vocal about their outrage. At a public meeting attended by over 300 people, North East Cambridgeshire MP Steve Barclay and Manea Councillor Charlie Marks condemned the lawlessness. Cllr Marks put it bluntly: “We could have been mourning a member of our village today.” The extent of the chaos, and the complete lack of police response at the time, has left villagers feeling abandoned and vulnerable.

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Many residents made multiple emergency calls, only to be told officers would attend in three to four hours. Chief Constable Nick Dean admitted there was "no excuse" for the lack of action and has promised a full investigation. Meanwhile, Local Policing Commander Superintendent Ben Martin apologised, stating that resources were stretched too thin to respond effectively.

When criminals feel emboldened enough to target firefighters—who dedicate their lives to protecting others—it marks a disturbing escalation. The deliberate damage to fire engines is not just an attack on emergency services; it represents a broader erosion of respect for law and order in the UK, with those on the front lines of public safety bearing the greatest burden.

The gang didn’t stop in Cambridgeshire. After unleashing destruction across the county, they moved on to Hertfordshire, where police finally managed to track them using drone technology. Hertfordshire Police have now released images and drone footage (scroll down for the video) in an attempt to identify those responsible for criminal damage and hare coursing in Therfield, North Hertfordshire.

According to police, the gang was spotted in Mill Lane, Therfield, at around 1 pm on Saturday, 25 January. Rural Operational Support Team (ROST) officers used their drone to gather evidence and guide colleagues into the area, which resulted in a pursuit involving the Roads Policing Unit.

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Sergeant Alex Winning from ROST confirmed that several vehicles, including a Blue Subaru Forester and a Silver Toyota RAV4, were seen trespassing on private land and engaging in hare coursing. The cruel and illegal practice, which involves setting running dogs onto a hare for gambling purposes, is a crime under the Hunting Act 2004. Significant damage was done to arable land, and multiple gates were broken in the process.

Hertfordshire Police are now asking the public to help identify those involved. Anyone with information is urged to report online at herts.police.uk/report, contact the Force Communications Room via their online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact, email ROST at ROST@herts.police.uk, or call 101 quoting crime reference 41/8284/25. Those who wish to remain anonymous can provide information via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.

The hard-working farmers of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire deserve better. They deserve to feel safe in their homes and on their land. And our emergency responders—whether firefighters, police, or paramedics—deserve to be protected as they risk their lives to protect us.

OPINION: A Nation on the Brink? When Lawlessness Reigns

In this age where masked marauders roam freely, attacking not just property but the very fabric of our society, it's clear as day that the UK is teetering on the edge of chaos. The recent crime spree in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire isn't just a local concern; it's a glaring symptom of a nation that seems to have lost its grip on law and order. When gangs of men, hidden behind masks, feel they can terrorise communities, assault firefighters, damage fire engines and destroy public resources without immediate consequence, we must ask ourselves: what the hell has happened to our country?