Quick News

• Two fox kills
• Master assaults female sab
• Hunt chases fox through field of pregnant ewes
• James Blunt “saddened” to find out that tickets to his show went to a hunt ball (update)
• Suspended hunt returns to kill
• Hunt trespasses through nature reserve
• Landowner closes permissive path to keep hunt out
• Police victims of hunt violence
• Venue cancels hunt ball
• Police stop and search 70 year old protester on Boxing Day
• High speed car chase – hunt pursuing sabs – blocked by police
• National Trust cover up of stag hunting
• AAF Police Consultation
• Action Against Harehunting launching

Hunt atrocities

Weston and Banwell with West Somerset Vale Hunt killed a fox last Wednesday (31st Jan) but parts of the dead fox were recovered by Sabs. It seems that a PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) was very helpful towards the Hunt but less helpful to those who oppose this criminal activity. This is the Hunt that parades its hounds in Axbridge (Somerset) on Boxing Day, with the support of the Axbridge Town Trust.  AAF is challenging the Boxing Day meet. You might want to send them an email and ask what they think they are playing at.

David Redvers, a joint master of the Ledbury Hunt, was filmed pushing and shoving a female sab on a public footpath as she tried to walk along it. The whole incident was filmed and the footage sent to the police.

Cumbria Hunt Sabs report that the North Cumberland Fox Hounds were caught chasing a fox through fields full of pregnant ewes. This is being investigated by the police.

The Vale of White Horse Hunt killed a fox on 7^th February. This is the hunt that involved James Blunt in a controversy when his tickets to his show were offered as a raffle prize at their Hunt Ball. James Blunt has responded to enquiries by confirming that he doesn’t support fox hunting and he was “saddened” to learn where his tickets ended up. 

The Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, who were suspended by their own governing body (the BHSA) after drone footage of their fox kill was aired on Channel 4, are back out hunting. The suspension was temporary. A number of terrier men and quad bikes were with the hunt. These appendages have no use on a trail hunt.

The Derwent Hunt trespassed all through Chafers Wood Nature reserve, on 27th January. The wood belongs to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Hunting is not permitted, and the hunt is well aware of it. Their astonishing behaviour was caught on video.

A land owner has closed a permissive path on his farm (Woodside Farm) due to the repeated trespass of the Quorn Hunt. The notice that the landowner has posted can be viewed on the Nottingham Hunt Sabs Facebook page. He is clearly upset with the hunt.

The Cheshire Hunt have advertised for a new whipper-in. The advert states, “we hunt two days a week…” They certainly don’t consider hiding their intention to hunt

Protect the Wild report that Preston Crown Court has sentenced Dane Crawford to 30 months in prison for animal cruelty. He was also banned from keeping animals for life and ordered to pay £3500 in costs. Shelby Wallace was given a suspended sentence of three months, banned from keeping animals for three years and ordered to pay £2500 in costs and to do 200 hours of unpaid work. Much of the evidence came from videos recorded on their own phone cameras and amongst other things they show him setting his dogs onto a fox that was trapped in his garage.

The Northants Hunt Sabs continue to report the violence perpetrated against them by the Cottesmore Hunt and their followers. Cottesmore thugs and hoodlums are being as aggressive as ever, and are not constrained by the presence of police. Their report reads, “The police clearly did not have the resources to deal with the level of lawlessness they faced from the thugs. They too became the victims of the deranged behaviour that they were duty bound to deal with.“

Alice Robb, the wife of John Edmund Boulton Robb, is a master of the Cottesmore Hunt. He is a barrister and a director of a law firm.

Hunt fails and investigations

Marwell Hotel (Hampshire) is the latest in a growing line of venues to cancel a hunt ball. The Hursely Hambledon Hunt were booked to celebrate a season of killing, on 2 March.  Most businesses don’t want to be associated with the hunts, as they are fearful of public condemnation and loss of reputation. Also, most people don’t support the hunts, and that includes managers and owners of venues.

The Oakley Hunt will fold at the end of this season. This hunt has been killing foxes for centuries in Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire.

Dylan Brendan Boyle from the Berwickshire and Fife Hunts (Fife are now a clean boot hunt), will be in court on 28th Feb. He was filmed digging a badger sett, pulling out a fox and shooting it twice.

police

Gwent Police have opened a can of worms. They used police stop and search powers against a 70-year-old lady protesting at the Boxing Day Hunt meet of the Monmouth Hunt. Police said they had ‘intel’ (in fact it was ‘malicious misinformation’) and they searched for…guess what? … a personal attack alarm. The lady did not have one, but if she had, the police claimed it could be used to disrupt the hunt and frighten the horses.  A personal alarm is fully approved and is in any case not (normally) considered an offensive weapon.  Gwent Police maintain that in searching the lady they did nothing wrong.  How long before they think to search a monitor’s car for a car horn?

The Severn Vale Hunt Hunt Sabs went to visit the RAC Beagles on Saturday 3rd February. They escaped from a hunt thug roadblock but were pursued in a high-speed chase for 20 miles. During the period of the chase they were in constant contact with Gloucestershire Police who intercepted the pursuing vehicles. One of the pursuing vehicles had a cudgel on display on its dashboard. (One of the police intercepts was from the police firearms unit).

Scottish border Hunt Sabs report that the Jedburgh Hunt had at least five unlicensed quad bikes out with them and, not unreasonably, are wondering why the Scottish Police do not take action.

On Sat 3rd, Northants Hunt Sabs received a police escort, a tacit acknowledgement that they were at risk from violence. The aggressors were thugs from the Cottesmore Hunt.

Norfolk Hunt Sabs report that five officers followed them around on public roads, “which crossed lines of harassment yet not one arrest was made.“ The sabs were attending a hare shoot.

Three Counties Hunt Sabs report that Gloucestershire Police have put notices above some setts that have been blocked, warning of the penalties of interfering with badger setts.