£1m bid to stop 'illegal' hunting
Anti-hunt campaigners have pumped £1 million into attempts to flush out suspected illegal hunting in the Westcountry despite police never having scored a single conviction under the controversial ban.
The League Against Cruel Sports has launched a Hunt Crimewatch advertising campaign and told huntsmen to expect more activists armed with cameras hiding in bushes and watching for wrongdoing.
-
Opponents of the seven-season-old ban say the charity has resorted to employing "increasingly desperate tactics" to shore up the failed Hunting Act and give it a "veneer of success".
The renewal of hostilities over the emotionally-charged issue comes after David Cameron told the Western Morning News that plans for a free vote in the House of Commons which could reverse Labour's legislation would go ahead.
The Prime Minister, a keen country sportsman, has refused to set a date, claiming the country's pressing economic difficulties must take priority, but has said he will vote to repeal the law.
The league, which admits it has sold assets to swell its war chest, plans to spend the £1 million over four years on hiring investigations staff and equipment to gather evidence which it hopes will lead to court action.
Joe Duckworth, the league's chief executive, said three quarters of the public supported the ban, and claimed "the majority of hunts are flouting the law".
"This is the seventh hunting season under the ban, but all the evidence suggests that hunts are getting more lawless than ever," he added.
"Appointing investigations officers around the country will enable us to increase our efforts in gathering evidence for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service."
The Countryside Alliance says the law is an "unenforceable, inconsistent and confusing mess".
Alison Hawes, the South West regional director, added: "It is hardly surprising that the league continue their desperate attempt to shore up the failed Hunting Act.
"A law they wanted, wrote and celebrate does not work on any level.
"The simple fact is that Devon and Cornwall Police have not proceeded against a single person under the Hunting Act in six years, showing its utter failure."
The Hunting Act of 2004 effectively bans hunting with dogs but allows the hunting of a trail.
Flushing a fox from a hiding place using two hounds then shooting or using a bird of prey to kill the animal also remains legal.
So far, there have been seven convictions under the Act, including two in Somerset, but none in Devon or Cornwall.
However, the league's covert surveillance techniques led to the conviction this year of a South Devon Hunt countryman for interfering with a badger sett.
The latest success by the league under the Act came following an undercover investigation into the Fernie Hunt in Leicestershire which saw convictions and heavy fines for a huntsman and terrierman.
Last year, the Coalition Agreement included a pledge to "bring forward a motion on a free vote enabling the House of Commons to express its view on the repeal of the Hunting Act".
The Countryside Alliance says the case for repeal was compelling, adding: "The league can throw money and propaganda at the Act for as long as they like."
Devon and Cornwall police said: "If the force receives an allegation of illegal practice or has evidence to suggest an offence has been committed the matter would be investigated accordingly."
30 Comments
View all
by Charlespk
Tuesday, November 01 2011, 8:25PM
“People should watch all of this short film and learn.
http://tinyurl.com/6fp4hp3”
by chuckjaeger
Tuesday, November 01 2011, 6:57PM
“This is obviously not about class and continuing an argument in that vein merely clouds the issue on both sides. In fact some of the wealthiest people in the country happen to be against these activities.
As someone who is concerned about animal welfare I don't care if it's the hunt reveling in the death of a fox or someone who has a malnourished dog through lack of money both are cases of cruelty even if the latter case is probably unintentional.
Perhaps the class distinction comes about as generally speaking you have to have a fair amount of disposable income to take part i.e. buying the horse, livery, feed, saddles, bridles, farrier etc. This alone would preclude those with less from taking part. However, wealth is rarely the gauge which society uses to define what class you are in assuming class is still relevant these days.”
by Jake_Blake
Tuesday, November 01 2011, 12:31PM
“Wow, just wow. Well the idea that this "animal rights" pseudo industry doesn't have money has been clearly blown out of the water. And what's this going to be spent on, an army of peeping Toms. Surely people who consider themselves moral must realise that this is going too far.
It's interesting how quickly once again this goes from childish name calling to what the reality of the topic is actually about, an attack on a perceived class. Yet, despite the reinforcement that you're talking rubbish, you Antbod still seem to prattle on.”
by 2ladybugs
Monday, October 31 2011, 4:18PM
“@Antbod
I don't know. Pity,there seems to be more foxes in urban areas so perhaps hunts would be more appropriate there.
Snobs? who mentioned snobs.
Yes you are right about the country estates holding these hunts although round here in Devon it's just held at the local pub. It actually helps the pub keep going. They don't get much trade at other times.
A carriage for me? The only time I am likely to go in a carriage is when I leave this mortal place even then I don't hold out much hope! (p.s I am not ready yet for that journey)
I still like the idea of the men in vests with fags hanging out their mouths.”
by Antbod
Monday, October 31 2011, 3:55PM
“I never said everyone was snobs I said I detested the pomp and circumstance. Most of my feelings are shared with Mark Thomas the hunts could not take place without the backing of the upper classes. It is everything to do lords and manors as you could not hold a hunt in a backyard of a 2 up 2 down council house so it could never be for people or commoners as you like to refer to them. Though it would be cool if just for once they all did attend a hunt and watch the reaction of Lord Yaya of inherited wealth dressed to nines run to the hills
Do not confuse the open moor lands of Cornwall with the rest of the country, here could well be slightly different
Now my Lady your carriage waits.”
by 2ladybugs
Monday, October 31 2011, 3:06PM
“@Antbod
You have lightened my day. I would dearly love to see that. You have given me a good laugh.
However hunts people are NOT all toffs (as certain people round here have reminded me). Some are just ordinary people who have a love for horses and riding.”
by Antbod
Monday, October 31 2011, 2:59PM
“I love this comment from Mark
Fox-hunting is a truly upper-class activity and the only way to get the toffs to abandon it for ever would be if thousands of working people from south London council estates turned up on horseback to the Horsham Hunt to join in. If hunting were swamped with horse-riding blokes in tracksuit bottoms, smoking Superkings and shouting: "Come on, let's **** the furry ******!" the upper classes would flee in disdain.
http://tinyurl.com/5ww5oef”
by 2ladybugs
Monday, October 31 2011, 2:47PM
“@Charlespk
Yep take your point. They aren't all the same. I've even lived . Sheep being transported in the back of the car on the way to a night out!”
by Lafrowda
Monday, October 31 2011, 2:43PM
“St Just !
Toffs & snobs. We don't get our country knowledge from Mary Poppins you know.”
by Charlespk
Monday, October 31 2011, 2:37PM
“Mendip Farmers Hunt? . . Toffs? . . Snobs?
http://tinyurl.com/6l4lzhz”