Quick News
- Mark Baldwin escapes justice
- Rother District Council receive 5000+ emails
- HSA appeal for damning videos
- Sabs assaulted by stag hunt
- Kent hunters grab sab by the neck
- Suffolk Hounds becomes drag hunt
- Boxing Day Hunt Meet replaced with wheelbarrow run
- Drunk Huntsman falls off sober horse
- Warwickshire Chief Constable ignores Warwickshire MP
- AAF need evidence of from Boxing Day Meets
Police Court and Prosecutions
Despite the combined efforts of AAF Midlands, West Midlands Hunt Sabs and a local MP, the Warwickshire Hunt Community Protection Notice scandal continues. The Hunt still acts as though they are above the law and the higher ranks of Warwickshire Police are still failing in their duty. The public does not seem to be willing to let the issue be swept under the carpet. The protocol (which was adopted instead of the CPN) between the Hunt and the Police remains undisclosed to the public and the Chief Constable still has not replied to the written questions posed to him by a Warwickshire MP.
On Monday 13th November at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court, Mark Baldwin of the Middleton Hunt was found not guilty of illegal hunting. The video evidence from 25 Jan 2023 was pretty damning, but the key issue revolved around “intention“. The magistrates indicated they were not convinced by the “trail laying” claim, but intent had not been adequately proved. The York Anti-Hunt League thanked the North Yorkshire Police for getting the case into court and the CPS for presenting it.
Hunt atrocities
Suffolk Action for Wildlife report that the Suffolk Hounds is going to become a legitimate drag hunt. The monitors believe the Hunt is being sincere in its declared change of policy. Meet cards will be published and terrier men banned.
Kent Police are gathering witness statements after one of the Kent Hunt supporters assaulted several sabs, including grabbing a female sab by the neck.
The North Dorset Hunt Sabs’s report on the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt of 18/11/23 tells us of “… a serious assault involving a rider when a sab was ridden down and trampled, receiving injuries.“ This is the sort of conduct that earned Chris Mardles an18 month jail sentence.
North Yorkshire Police are requesting help in identifying some wildlife criminals. They are believed to be associated with the Sinnington Hunt. If you can, please help. https://www.facebook.com/100064356987125/posts/pfbid0LrzMivSbccmH2Kmo46dGRchQokZXwna4PF1Bq9aovFfZPsvhWjCFhMGNyXEqFWPil/?d=n&mibextid=WC7FNe
On Saturday 25/11/23, a member of the Isle of Wight Hunt Sabs was head-butted. The incident was recorded and the video footage is now with the police. Along with the assault, the Isle of Wight Hunt trespassed on National Trust land and their dogs fouled on public roads.
On Saturday 11th November, the hounds of the Puckeridge and Essex Hunt attacked a fallow deer. The video of the event is now with the police.
The Jedburgh Hunt from north of the border is continuing to hunt illegally. After sabs arrived on the scene, the Hunt reduced the number of hounds on the loose from a full pack to the permitted two, but not before they were filmed with the full pack in pursuit of a fox. The usual aggression from support then ensued.
The Royal Agricultural College Beagles had to give up their day of hunting on the 25/11/23 due to the presence of sabs. Once again, terriermen acted very aggressively.
Herefordshire Hunt Sabs report that the Ledbury Hunt have been caught trespassing on the land of the Malvern Hills Trust.
The North Wales Hunt Sabs caught the Flint And Denbigh Hunt trespassing on land owned by Welsh Water.
Hunt Fails
Last year, the Southdowns and Eridge Hunt’s road closure application was accepted and AAF’s application was refused. The tables have turned this year, and a wheelbarrow run (organised by AAF Sussex) is happening instead. The run has nothing to do with foxhunting whatsoever (pro OR anti) – it is just to collect donations for the local food bank. Much more fun than watching a bunch of bloodthirsty horseriders show off in the street, pretending to be a worthy and noble cause.
Quite possibly, the funniest piece of footage we have ever seen. The view is a little unsteady as sab holding the camera was laughing too much…
https://www.facebook.com/NorthDorsetSabs/videos/201567339659467/
Stag Hunting
North Dorset Hunt Sabs, Wildlife Guardian, Mendip Hunt Sabs and Weymouth Animal Rights continue to sab and monitor the stag hunts in Somerset and Devon. They are putting themselves on the line here, and being attacked and robbed on almost every occasion. On 27th November, one of their number ended up in hospital, after a vicious attack by members of the Quantock Stag Hounds.
Campaigning News – and Calls to Action
Rother District Council, the council that controls the town of Battle, has received over 5000 emails complaining about their astonishing decision to forgive East Sussex & Romney Marsh Hunt and the Southdowns & Eridge Hunt (amalgamated) for allowing their hounds to run free and defecating in the town of Battle on Boxing Day, when everybody else risks a fine. To date, the council has not responded.
The Hunt Sabs Association is appealing for illegal hunting videos which they know are out there somewhere. They are particularly interested in three videos that they know exist. The first video of interest shows former Avon Vale Hunt master, Stuart Radbourne, throwing a live fox to his hounds in front of hunt supporters – including a child – on Christmas Eve, 2020. The second video of interest shows masters of the West Norfolk Foxhounds releasing two bagged foxes at a meet a few years ago. The HSA understands that this video has been seen by police, but that no further action was taken. Finally, HSA is interested in a recent video that shows the Midlands-based Dove Valley Minkhounds using a pole to knock a mink from a tree into the jaws of the baying pack below.
Boxing Day
To take action against a Boxing Day Meet in your town, what you need MOST is evidence. Go along with a video camera and collect it. It takes less than an hour on the day, and could be very, very useful in 2024. All the advice you need can be found here:
https://www.actionagainstfoxhunting.org/boxing-day-and-new-years-meets-watch-listen-record/
AAF will even help you get started.
Sheep farmer’s petition
A sheep farmer has begun a petition to make hunts liable to prosecution if their hounds worry livestock. There are TWO petitions – one change.org (below) and another one to come – a PARLIAMENTARY ONE.
Change.org: https://chng.it/g5vkfKkchj
Have a read
If you’d like to know more about the activity of a northern sab, have a look at this article: https://protectthewild.substack.com/p/roaming-to-ukraine-from-the-frontline
Protect the Wild (like AAF) is a site well worth following.
