Illegal Hunting on Ministry of Defence land – the facts
The Royal Artillery Hunt (RAH) is permitted to use Salisbury Plain for hunting. They claim they are “legally trail hunting” but they have repeatedly been caught chasing and killing wild animals. The MOD* grants licenses to the hunt to use the land and despite public outrage over the killings, they continue to do so.
What has the Royal Artillery Hunt been doing on Salisbury Plain?
For the 2022 -2023 season, the RAH killed a fox, attacked a badger and chased two deer for considerable distance and across two roads, including in front of a monitor’s Landrover. Last season they admitted to killing two foxes at Christmas (due to sab/monitor evidence) and simply completed an accident kill form for the licence with no repercussion. This strongly suggests either intentional illegal hunting or out of control dangerous dogs.
- 24th December, RAH killed fox[1] , monitors were too far to get to the killing site in time to save her, retrieved the leg first, which was warm, the rest of the body was found later pushed into the undergrowth, flesh was scattered on the ground and the ground area flattened by the hounds. The fox was feet away from holes. Blatant lies – at the time, the hunt accused the monitor of using a dead roadkill fox, claimed seen earlier on the A303.
RAH admitted to the kill via the accident claim form (Freedom of Information Request). - 27th December, RAH killed fox, Terry Gover forcibly took dead fox off Surrey SAB and left scene. CPS did not prosecute the illegal hunting even though strong video evidence was provided, as the hunt claimed a trail was laid. Video evidence proved no attempt was made by the hunt to stop the hounds. Following violence and theft to a Surrey Saboteur by hunt supporter Hayden Gover, a fine and a police caution was issued.
- 4th December 2021, 2 deer chased by RAH and presented danger to the public as chased across a public road
- 30th November, White Horse Westbury, English Heritage, trespass on ancient monument. Wiltshire Police and English Heritage contacted RAH concerning their illegal trespass on English Heritage Ancient Burial Mound, video available (I have email to substantiate).
- 23rd October, Manor Farm, Wiltshire Police investigated evidence provided by monitors of 2 foxes being chased, video available, this was not pursued as the RAH claimed a trial laid (video time stamp could be altered).
- 13th November, hounds chasing fox, MOD Police told RAH to pack up, police had to leave, RAH continued to hunt in woods with hounds in cry
- 4th September, SPTA, blatant cub hunting techniques
Who is responsible for the activities of the hunt?
Charles Carter
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- Master Middleton Hunt 2017, disgraced councillor, video of lewd comments to a monitor, Judge Lower said: “The comments made by Mr Carter do him no credit. “They were boorish, offensive, distasteful and, I imagine, they caused a degree of upset regardless of what Mr Carter may have thought when asked to reflect on his behaviour in interview with the police. Court case for illegal hunting of 2 foxes dismissed. https://www.express.co.uk/…/charles-carter-tory…
- Video from Reading Sabs 31st October 2020 on FB shows Carter whipping group of hounds in a frenzy.
Trail layer Sam Bialek.
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- The prosecution video evidence shows her talking to her mounted friends in front of the monitor recording the hunting evidence. Stating ‘I need a piss, I might have to have a piss, I’ll wee there, do you want a picture of piss a bit of porn?’.
South Coast Hunts sab video showed Bialek reversing her horse into their Landrover, forcing her to take down her public video claiming they ran into the back of her horse.
Other members of the hunt
Many other members have been involved in disgraceful behaviour. The HSA report gives more detail: https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/royal-artillery-hunt-lies-to-channel-4-news/
If the Royal Artillery Hunt are hunting illegally on MOD land, why hasn’t anyone been prosecuted?
MOD Police and CPS started prosecution of the Royal Artillery Hunt, for illegal hunting at their Opening Meet last year. Evidence clearly showed Carter (huntsman) chasing a fox on horseback, using the no. 7 horn command to bring hounds to a fox and hunt support shouting the command ‘hold up’ to keep the hounds in the wood with the fox. Carter attended Swindon Magistrates court twice for a plea hearing, postponed and then his defence discovered an admin error – whilst the summons was issued in the timeline the case was filed with the courts a day late and therefore prosecution stopped due to a ‘technicality’.
The ”technicality” was due to the timing of submission to Swindon court, just a day late (and was bank holiday weekend). MOD received the CPS instruction to proceed at the eleventh hour, served carter with the summons but did not simultaneously file with the court and missed the strict deadline. The defence barrister raised this after the plea hearings and after several CPS meetings the decision was made that ‘they had to dismiss due to the timing technicality.
What about the police – where to they come into it?
There are two police forces involved. One is the MDP (Ministry of Defence Police), who have made every effort to tackle illegal hunting on Salisbury Plain. The other is Wiltshire Police. Their reputation in tackling illegal hunting is dire. More detail can be found here:
https://protectthewild.org.uk/fox-hunting/what-do-wiltshire-police-and-the-met-have-in-common/
What about the public who also use Salisbury Plain?
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RAH pursue animals across public roads with hounds (e.g. video of deer at Erlestoke 4th December 2021). This is either intentional (illegal) or the hounds are out-of-control and therefore a liability to public safety. This season, police investigating deer chase on 22nd October, chased for 1.5 miles, no attempt to stop the hounds, deer chased across road.
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Hounds have chased and ripped apart foxes/hare (RAH admit killing a hare on 30th November 2020, detailed in their accident report obtained through FOI), two fox kills in December 2021 next time this could be a small dog. This season, hounds killed a fox on 29th October, currently discussing with police.
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Dog poo from the pack of hounds is left on the ground, a nuisance to both children and the military using the area as their training ground
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Hunt support consistently driving off public roads and blocking public roads with cars and horses
HOw much money has this cost the public?
The Kennels, New Ward Road, Bulford Camp, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 9SJ. With Ben Wallace asking the Government for more MOD funding in an economic crisis, £121,000 MOD budget spent on the RAH kennels and funding their utilities up until April this year (FOI request in March raising this issue).
What do we need to do?
*The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is the body that manages MOD owned land.
We need to shine the light on the DIO (land owners and issuers of ‘trail licence’) who refuse to engage with anyone, and are protecting the hunts, allowing them to continue to hunt illegally under their smokescreen of trail hunting.
Sign the petition:
https://protectthewild.org.uk/modpetition/
Salisbury Plain Monitors
