Newsbyte 16
- Son of Hunt Master convicted of ABH
- Sab drone stolen
- Police drop stag hunting case
- Man convicted under Deer Act
- Stag hunt filmed using three hounds (limit is two)
- Welsh Police ignore call from sabs, but respond to hunt’s
- PCC elections on 2nd May
- CEO of League Against Cruel Sports resigns
- Fox hounds run through football match
- Conservative MP openly supports fox hunting
- Jeremy Clarkson demo in Gloucestershire
Top Stories
Charlie Mayo, son of Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt Master Anthony Mayo, was found guilty of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). He has to pay £1000 court costs, and £3000 compensation to the victim. He struck a saboteur on the back of his head with the bone end of his whip, causing injury. This is the hunt that was featured on Channel 4 in January killing a fox. The BHSA banned them for three weeks, and then they returned to their usual practices. AAF is beginning a campaign to look at all landowners that allow this hunt to use their land. In particular, the Newt in Somerset. The Newt is a country estate, which claims to “share the land with a host of wildlife”. You can visit, or stay there at a cost of £1770 for two adults for two nights. The Newt hosts the hunt, allowing them to meet and hunt on their land. The last meet held on their land was Thursday 23rd November. Seeing the hunt shocked some of the Newt’s guests, who contacted AAF for advice. For more details, see “Campaigns”.
Whilst monitoring the United Pack, Shropshire Monitors had their drone stolen by members of the Hunt. The Hunt used their own drone to collide with the monitor’s drone. Terriermen then recovered the monitor’s drone. The Hunt drone was flown closer than the statutory 50m limit from people and buildings. Theft, criminal damage and illegal use of a drone, all in one attack
North Dorset Hunt Sabs report that the case against the Quantock Staghounds which occurred on the 27 November 2023 has been dropped. Despite video evidence, Avon and Somerset police dropped the case the next day, without even taking statements. After official complaints, the case has again been dropped with Avon and Somerset police claiming they had insufficient evidence.
The League provided intelligence to the Essex Police which has resulted in the conviction of three men and one woman for numerous Animal Welfare offences including dogfighting.
Jeremy Clarkson, who has done nothing to stop the Heythrop Hunt illegally and repeatedly blocking badgers setts on his land in preparation for illegal hunting (there is no other reason for blocking badger setts), was the subject of a demo outside his Brewery in Bourton on the Water on Wednesday 10th April. Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch, Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs and AAF Gloucestershire were involved.
Police and hunt crime
28-year-old Sampson Richards, from Penryn, Cornwall, pleaded guilty on 21 March to attempting to take, kill or injure a deer without lawful authority – an offence under the Deer Act 1991. He used his dog to bring the deer down and the video records the deer’s screams. The brutality was posted on Facebook. He was given 140 hours of community work, a fine of £400 and costs of £114.
North Dorset Hunt Sabs report that The Devon and Somerset Staghounds have been filmed using three hounds, contrary to the Hunting Act exemptions. (The Act permits only two dogs to be used). The hunted stag may have escaped using a flooded river.
On the 23rd of March the Isle of Wight police twice failed to attend when their help was requested. In one of the incidents, a dead rabbit was thrown at the windscreen of a sab and in another incident the same sab was again targeted and her number plate was sprayed with paint. On one of the occasions when the police refused to attend they said that she had put herself in a vulnerable position and therefore it was her own fault.The police did however turn up to investigate a complaint made by a hunt member that a sab had sworn at the member of the hunt. There is a photograph of the police vehicle turning up and following two illegally driven quad bikes to the scene of where the swearing is alleged to have taken place.
North Wales Hunt Sabs have reminded us of these recent words by the police officer with special responsibility for hunting in England and Wales. Chief Supt Longman recognised that there has been a certain cynicism regarding the policing of hunts, recognising that “historically the police have not been impartial when called to a hunt.”
Warwickshire
Philip Seccombe is once more standing for the position of Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire. He is central to the scandal concerning the Warwickshire Hunt, the abandoned Community Protection Notice against the hunt and the “secret protocol” that replaced it (also now abandoned). Voting will take place on 2nd May. West Midlands Hunt Sabs and AAF Midlands are holding events to highlight the behaviour of Mr Seccombe and encouraging everyone to use their vote. Mr Seccombe has recently made a statement about the debacle, promising “to commission an independent report to look at the issuing of the protocol and make recommendations to the force on how it can move forward to fully restore public confidence.” He made this statement just before the candidates for the PCC elections were announced.
Matt Western MP has taken the case of the secret protocol between Warwickshire Police and Warwickshire Hunt to the House of Commons and presented a petition. In Parliament, in part of his address, he said: “The petitioners, therefore, request that the Government require the Warwickshire Police to publish the contents of the protocol.”
These stories also caught our attention
Channel 4, 25th March, a member of the BHSA (British Hound Sports Association), Julian Barnfield, was interviewed and said, “… in 19 years we’ve learnt a lot since the ban came in, and still learning. We have adapted, we’ve changed, we’ve still got people that have not done us any favours…“ Barnfield was himself convicted of illegal foxhunting in 2012. Mr Barnfield was one of the 37,000 who signed the Hunting Declaration of 2003. This declaration stated “we…intend to disobey any law purporting to ban hunting.”
The League Against Cruel Sports has a new acting CEO (Chief Executive Officer). Andy Knott has resigned and Chris Luffingham, (former deputy chief executive) is stepping in.
The (Isle of) Wight Hunt Sabs show footage of Isle of Wight foxhounds running through an active football match. Their hounds were not under control.
Mark Jenkinson, Conservative MP for Workington, has been talking about his visit to the Blackcombe and District Beagles. He said, “we must support our rural communities and all they represent. They’re the backbone of Cumbrian life.” He went on to abuse members of the public who commented on his Facebook page, and then deleted the comments.
Campaigns and things to do (now)
Do you live in a rural area? Let your MP, or election candidates, know that you live in the countryside and you don’t support hunting of any kind. Don’t let the pro hunting lobby get away with the lie that all rural people either go hunting, support hunting or make their living by it. it is CRUCIAL that we get the message out there. We’ll even send a postcard to your MP for you. It couldn’t get much easier.
Please sign LACS petition to ban hunting in National Parks.
With the Police and Crime Commissioners election coming up, you might want to find out what the candidates intend to do about illegal hunting. LACS have sent up and easy way of doing this:
The HSA are reminding members that the season for mink and otter hunting has now recommenced. Should anyone observe suspicious riverside activity the Hunt Sab tip-off number is 07443 148426. Please put this number in your contacts list. You may need it in a hurry.
Landowners, Hunting and The Newt
Section 3 (i) of the Hunting Act 2004 states this:
“A person commits an offence if he knowingly permits land which belongs to him to be entered or used in the course of the commission of an offence under Section 1”
Section 1 of the Hunting Act states:
“A person commits an offence if he hunts a wild mammal with a dog”
With more and more drones in the air, police, sabs and monitors are very likely to catch hunts breaking the law on private land. All landowners – and particularly landowners that are also businesses – must stop permitting the hunts to use their land. AAF has written to the Newt twice, and emailed once, giving them the opportunity to confirm that they will no longer permit the criminal Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt to meet and hunt on their land. The Newt has ignored us totally. This is unacceptable. Our campaign will begin in the next week, but in the meantime, click on this link and maybe send them a polite (and it MUST be polite) email.
