Hunt Behaviour
Many hunts decided not to go out this week because of the very cold weather. This gave sabs, monitors and wildlife a bit of a break. The Wynnstay ventured out on foot but when the huntsman realised he had sabs present, he returned to base.
_______
The Warwickshire Hunt Sabs provided film footage taken on the 22nd October of the Warwickshire Hunt verbally abusing a sab and using the term “Fatty” 28 times. The Independent newspaper covered the story and shows the footage on its 30/11/22 online edition. Now that’s it is in the public domain, I doubt if the huntsman feels quite as smug as he felt when he was taunting the sab.
_______
Glasgow Hunt Sabs have a report of an ordeal they had with the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Fox Hounds, who were trying to kill a fox that had gone to ground. The violence against the one or two female sabs is appalling. It will be interesting to see if the police take any action on this because it is one of the worst examples of hunt violence that I have come across.
_______
The Wynnstay are advertising for a new huntsman. Chris Woodward (the defendant in the case which was dropped – see below) is leaving. North Wales Hunt Sabs also report that some of the masters of that hunt are leaving and maybe the whipper-in too. There may be some dissent within their ranks.
_______
The day after Mr Finnegan of the Cheshire Hounds was convicted of foxhunting (Tue 6/12/22) he was again out hunting. During the course of that day his terrierman assaulted sabs. Two members of North Wales Hunt Sabs were run in to by the quad. When Mr Finnegan committed the offence to which he admitted guilt, he was enjoying a joint meeting with the Ledbury Hunt. Despite this, Herefordshire Council have granted permission for the Ledbury Hunt to hold their Boxing Day meet in Ledbury town centre. It seems criminality is not an obstacle to self promotion or council endorsement. Ledbury Hunt have actually claimed that they know nothing at all of the conviction.
_______
North Dorset Hunt Sabs also a report a serious assault of a lone female sab, on 5th December 2022.
_______
On 10th December, Charles Carter from the Royal Artillery Hunt drove his car at a monitor, knocking him to the ground and injuring him. While his victim was on the ground, Carter took his camera. It was later found, smashed. A serious altercation then occurred between the monitors and the hunt. Police were called, but as this was Wiltshire, no action was taken. Carter (who has had TWO cases of illegal foxhunting dropped by the CPS, one due to a procedural error) is the “competent person” who wrote the risk assessment for the hunt.
**************
Court
On 11/12/22 Cheshire monitors released the footage which the CPS considered was insufficient evidence to pursue a case of foxhunting against Chris Woodward of the Wynnstay Hunt. In court the hunt members attempted to intimidate the witness who was willing to stand and give evidence. Another witness would not give evidence for fear of reprisals.
_______
6/12/22, Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court: Ollie Finnegan now Huntsman with the Cheshire Hounds, has pleaded guilty to illegal hunting on 7/1/22, whilst he was the Huntsman with the Quorn Hunt. Leicestershire Police force seized his phone and found incriminating text messages, which furthered the case against him. Three Counties Hunt Sabs, and Hereford Sabs collected the evidence and provided it to the police, and then stepped up as witnesses. These prosecutions wouldn’t be possible without sabs and monitors.
_______
Matt Ramsden and Rhys Matcham from the Beaufort Hunt were due in Swindon Magistrates Court on 8th and 9thDecember 2022. There had been numerous previous hearings and much public money spent. On the morning of the 8th, the case was suddenly and inexplicably dropped. The Beaufort is King Charles’ hunt. His good friend, Lord Mancroft is also part of it. We can’t think why it was dropped…
_______
John Lewis of the Lamerton Hunt was due in Plymouth Magistrates Court on 09/12/22, charged with having dogs dangerously out of control. The offence occurred 5/2/22. The result of this case is not yet known but it is interesting that the offence refers to dogs dangerously out of control.
************
Police
Warwickshire Police Rural Crime Team report on their Facebook page that they have issued a Community Protection Notice (CPN) against the Warwickshire Hunt. They say they have done this because they issued the hunt with a warning notice in May 2022 about the anti-social use of the country road network. They say that the unreasonable and dangerous use of the roads has continued, and so they have issued the CPN.
“ The conditions require Warwickshire Hunt to give us advance notice of events, and details of the times and locations of road crossing points. There are also requirements to inform us about who will control dogs during the event, and for the organisation to notify participants about their responsibilities around crossing roads at the designated point. Breaching the conditions will amount to a criminal offence. This is a three-year notice, and the organisation has the right of appeal within 21 days.“ Because of the right to appeal, it is obviously not a done deal yet, but this will send shockwaves through the hunting community and through the various organisations that offer them tacit protection.
________
On Sat (3/12/22) Kent Police positioned themselves to stop sab vehicles outside of the East Kent Hunt kennels, thereby denying the sabs the opportunity to follow the hunt to its meet. The police were successful and the sabs chose to find another hunt. Well done to the Kent Police. You haven’t just aided and abetted illegal hunting by one hunt, but sent a signal to hunts all over the country that some police forces are still on the side of illegal hunting and against groups who legally try and oppose it. The police know it, we know it, that there will be no retribution against the police for this deplorable conduct.
_______
Cheshire Against Blood Sports (CABS) report that the police rescued a hound from a deep water tank. The Cheshire Hunt had left this hound behind and it was the reaction of a quick thinking officer from the rural crime team that pulled the hound out of the tank. The Cheshire Against Blood Sports (CABS) are, in fact, full of praise for the police effort yesterday. The police challenged the behaviour of the terrier men and were prepared to get their feet muddy.
_______
6/12/22: Staffordshire Hunt Sabs report that the North Staffs Hunt has had to pack up early as the hunt staff agreed with the police that the hounds had been out of control.
________
It looks as though control of the hounds is becoming a bigger issue. It is easier to prove, rather than the more difficult to prosecute offence of foxhunting.
**********
Bad news for hunts
The Saltersgate Farmers Hunt have been caught digging out a badger sett on land controlled by the North York Moors National Park Authority. The Authority has banned the hunt from that particular area which is good, but it is felt that the Authority needs to ban the hunt from all of the areas under its control. Observations to this effect can be made to: general@northyorkmoors.org.uk
*********
Other news
‘Keep the Ban’ has a new website.
It is now ‘Protect the Wild’. It has the following website address. Just as we like others to support us I am sure they’d appreciate a visit. It’s a fine website – with the search bar sliding smoothly in from the right in an elegant and rather impressive way.
https://protectthewild.org.uk/
_______
Astonishing though it is, some churches actually support hunting. In Shropshire, a service for The United Pack, was arranged at St George’s Church in Clun on Sunday 11th December. Shropshire AAF asked people to contact the church politely and ask them to reconsider, given that hunts are keen on animal cruelty – and that cannot be Christian. The service was cancelled, not on moral grounds, but because a member of the clergy received emails, which she thought were threatening.
__________
The cold weather has kept the badgers underground. Underground badgers have kept the shooters at home. This has given the anti-cullers a welcome break.
**************
Hunts and the public
Another case of hunt trespass occurred on Sat 10/12/22 and was reported by Three Counties Hunt Sabs when the Cotswolds Hunt were asked to leave land by the land owner.
_______
The following has been borrowed from the Peterborough Hunt Sabs. “This week an elderly birdwatcher was knocked down by the out-of-control Fitzwilliam Hunt while they were out walking. “At least 30 fox hounds came charging down the path in full cry and knocked me down, I complained to the red coat on horseback but he just shouted “we’ve been doing this for 350 years!” And rode off!” We’re not sure that knocking over elderly birdwatchers for 350 years is much to boast about.
*************
Sab News
Yet another new group has formed. It is called the Plymouth and West Devon Hunt Sabs. Amongst their other activities they are organising a demo against the Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt meet in Tavistock on Boxing Day. Good luck to WDHS!
_________
Drones are becoming a integral part of sab groups’ toolkits. Sheffield Hunt Sabs did a fund raiser in order to buy one, and hit their target in less than 24hours. Good effort.
*************
Boxing Day
With help from some parish and town councils, many Boxing Day meets are still going ahead. Grantham, is the exception (well done GABS), and a number of others are also looking unlikely or at least, compromised. There is a list on Grantham Against Bloodsports Facebook Page. AAF has been campaigning all year, challenging the meets on grounds of health and safety. To challenge these meets, you need evidence; Boxing Day 2022, and New Year’s Day 2023 are our only two opportunities to collect it. Go to the meets, take a camera and film. Here’s some advice about what to look for:
https://www.actionagainstfoxhunting.org/boxing-day-and-new-years-meets-watch-listen-record/
Somerset County Council has astonished all of us by using EMERGENCY road closures to facilitate three Boxing Day meets. They say that this is because the hunts have not applied for proper road closures in time. CALL TO ACTION – email a complaint to the council. Protect the Wild has made it very easy to do. Click here for more details.
https://protectthewild.org.uk/news/somerset-county-council-using-emergency-powers-help-hunt-parades/
Latest News – 17th December 2022
