11-6-15   BBC News    Video shows fox cubs held near hunt kennels   Police in North Yorkshire are investigating after video footage showed 16 fox cubs being held in a barn near hunt kennels. The images were filmed by the League Against Cruel Sports, which alleges that the cubs were being raised to be hunted. Fox hunting with dogs was made illegal in 2004. The hunt says it is assisting the police and is confident that no one connected with the Hunt has committed any offence.

Liam Fox thinks anti-repeal Tories will preserve Hunting Act

24-5-15   Express & Star   Fox predicts hunting change defeat    A substantial number of Conservatives would help defeat attempts to repeal the ban on hunting with dogs, Liam Fox [left] has said.  The Tory former cabinet minister said he would welcome a free vote although predicted there would be enough opposition in the House of Commons to prevent the law being changed.

Prime Minister David Cameron promised to offer MPs a free vote on a Government Bill to repeal the Hunting Act passed by the former Labour administration in 2004 if he won the general election.  The law currently bans the use of dogs to hunt foxes and other wild mammals in England and Wales. Opposition from the Liberal Democrats prevented Mr Cameron delivering on a similar pledge made in the Conservative manifesto for the 2010 general election.

Appearing on Murnaghan on Sky News, Mr Fox said: "I would like to see a free vote on it. Given the balance of the House of Commons I think you will have pretty much all the opposition parties voting against and a substantial number of Conservatives against it. I do not see it happening. But again we gave a commitment we would have a free vote and I think that we should have a free vote."

POWAperson adds - Liam Fox is known to be a supporter of hunting with dogs. UPDATE  At 10-6-15, it would appear Dr.Fox may be right. It seems there are around 40 Conservative MPs declared against repeal . There remain nearly 60 Tory 'unknowns', but if the proportion of 'antis' among them is similar then it seems a straight repeal motion would narrowly fail - and that's without any SNP intervention.

P.M. may seek 'Middle Way' to try to placate strong anti-repeal feeling

23-5-15   Independent   Hunting ban: David Cameron to propose 'middle way' to limit outcry over animal welfare    David Cameron is considering a “middle way” option to the controversial planned repeal of the hunting ban in a bid to limit public outcry over animal welfare, it has emerged.  A bill to axe the 2004 Hunting Act will not be in this week’s Queen’s Speech but legislation is expected before Christmas.  While the new laws would allow hunting to resume, under consideration is a compromise that would protect foxes and other wild animals from “unnecessary cruelty”.  Other options on the table are licensing or tougher regulation of hunting than existed before the ban came into force in 2005.

The Prime Minister is understood to be considering a compromise package because of the huge support among voters for the original ban. It is possible that the Queen, in her 62nd address to Parliament on Wednesday, will allude to a free vote on hunting within the year.  A number of Conservative MPs stood at the general election with the backing of Vote-OK, a pro-hunting umbrella group, on the promise that they would vote for repeal in the Commons. Yet animal welfare campaigners are alarmed at the prospect of repeal of the 2004 act, which was hugely popular among voters.  Pro-hunting groups are believed to be open to a compromise option, as they were more than a decade ago when the issue was debated at length in the Commons and Lords.

The first is the “Donoughue option”, named after the former Labour minister Lord Donoughue, who originally proposed a middle way to reconcile strong feelings on either side of Parliament.  This would involve outlawing “deliberate and unnecessary cruelty” to wild animals, which would ban digging out fox cubs from dens, but would still permit hunting.  A separate compromise, which would also be supported by pro-hunting groups, would be for hunting to return but be more closely regulated than it was before the outright ban – this was the original law envisaged by Alun Michael, the then rural affairs minister, in 2002.

Since the ban came into force a decade ago, hunting of foxes with dogs is banned but hunts are legally allowed to use hounds following an artificial scent. The Countryside Alliance and Vote-OK say that a repeal is needed to lift the threat of criminal prosecution from members of hunts where foxes are accidentally killed.  A Countryside Alliance source said: “We have always been open to a middle-way option if that would put the issue to bed. We have always been open to anything logical that isn’t just an illogical hatchet job.” However animal welfare campaigners and many Labour MPs are unlikely to support a middle-way option and would want to block anything that waters down the ban.

POWAperson comments -  The Donoughue Bill, first mooted in 2001 in an attempt by the pro-bloodsports peer to head off a ban, was and is nothing but a cynical attempt to enact legislation that looks as if it provides protection to wild mammals, including hunted ones, but, in practice, would do nothing of the kind. It seeks to ban the intentional infliction of 'undue', not 'unnecessary' suffering. This is a critical difference, because it would not render illegal anything that is done to a wild mammal in the normal course of hunting, or, indeed, coursing or digging out. It would also raise almost insuperable barriers to anyone attempting to gather sufficient evidence to secure a conviction against organised hunters. The Bill was roundly rejected by all organisations concerned with wild animal welfare in the early 2000s.

The Hunting Bill introduced by Alun Michael MP, which was later transformed by backbenchers into the Hunting Act 2004, had numerous serious defects. The main one was that it allowed for the licensing of Hunts, with the Secretary of State responsible for determining whether licences should be issued or not. There was nothing to stop any Sec. of State, notably a Conservative one, from issuing as many licences as [s]he wished.

Cameron praised hunters for helping him win the election

20-5-15    Daily Mirror    David Cameron thanks fox hunters for helping him win election in celebratory text message     David Cameron [left] sent fox hunters a text thanking them for their crucial election backing within minutes of realising he had snatched victory.  The Prime Minister went out of his way to pay tribute to bloodsports enthusiasts who had swooped on key battlegrounds to help boost the Tory vote.  And he is set to reward them in the Queen’s Speech by paving the way for MPs to scrap the 10-year-old hunting ban.

The PM’s text was revealed in a celebratory online message by the Ledbury Hunt in Gloucestershire.  It quoted an email sent at 11.19am on May 8 by Charles Mann, of pro-hunt group Vote-OK.  He boasted: “The Prime Minister sent this text to us early this morning ‘Please thank Vote-OK for all their amazing work’.”  Vote-OK was set-up the day after the Hunting Act was signed into law in November 2004. It is chaired by Mr Cameron’s father-in-law Viscount Astor, stepdad to the PM’s wife Samantha.  Target constituencies for their campaigners had included Cheltenham, where Tory Alex Chalk ousted his anti-hunting Lib Dem rival; Oxford West & Abingdon, where Conservative Nicola Blackwood held her seat; and Bury North, where David Nuttall was re-elected.

In the email, sent by Mr Mann but with a message signed by Viscount Astor, the Tory peer told supporters: “What you achieved is to help return a Conservative Government with an overall majority. There is more work to do. We have to help the Government achieve its manifesto commitment on repeal of the Hunting Act.”  Writing on the Ledbury Hunt web page, spokesman Donald Haden claimed the Tories’ success meant the future of fox hunting “is now looking very bright indeed”.  He wrote: “Together we contributed to the victory of 4 MPs who all strongly support our cause.”

The Conservative manifesto pledged to give MPs “the opportunity to repeal the Hunting Act on a free vote, with a Government bill in Government time”. It is expected to be included in next Wednesday’s Queen’s Speech. League Against Cruel Sports spokesman Chris Pitt said: “We would hope the Prime Minister acts for the 80% who want to see the Hunting Act remain in place, rather than pander to a vocal minority of bloodsport enthusiasts.”

Sturgeon hints SNP may vote to help block Hunting Act repeal bid

18-5-15   Guardian   SNP considers voting to stop lifting of foxhunting ban   Nicola Sturgeon [right] hints that SNP could stand in the way of Tory clamour to repeal legislation. The Scottish National party is considering whether to oppose the repeal of the foxhunting ban in England and Wales, which is being pushed by some Conservative MPs, who hope there could be a vote this year.  SNP MPs usually do not vote on issues that only affect England and Wales, but the party’s leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has hinted that this could be an exception. During the election campaign, she said the SNP was open to changing its policy on keeping out of votes on devolved issues, such as health, if Westminster’s actions could have a knock-on effect on Scotland.

Some Tory MPs are pushing for a vote on foxhunting to be held within the next few months after it was promised in the party manifesto.  The Hunting Act introduced by the Labour government in 2004 bans hunting foxes, deer, hare and mink with dogs.  Asked on Twitter about how the SNP would vote, Sturgeon replied: “The SNP has not yet taken decision on this. We certainly don’t agree with repealing ban.”  The SNP’s Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, told the Scotsman newspaper: “SNP MPs still have to consider the legislation, which we haven’t seen. We need to see it, but of course we will be looking at that closely.  You do of course understand that the UK government imposes its fiat – its will – on Scotland without any significant legitimacy whatsoever, so we’re having legislation foisted on Scotland with only one [Tory] MP.  So we have to look at all of the issues coming forward in this new parliament following the independence referendum on its merits and we’ll be doing that when we see the legislation that is proposed by the government.”

Despite David Cameron’s personal support for foxhunting, Downing Street is unlikely to be happy about the reignition of the controversial issue now that the Conservatives have a majority. MPs would be allowed to vote however they wished on foxhunting as it is considered to be an issue of conscience. With a majority of just 12, there would only have to be a few Conservative rebels for the repeal to be blocked with the help of Labour and the SNP.

Hunt supporters press for early vote on Hunting Act repeal

16-5-15 Independent  Hunting ban ‘set to be repealed within 12 months’ with early Commons vote expected     Supporters of hunting with dogs are confident of overturning the ban imposed 10 years ago, claiming that a majority of MPs in the new House of Commons will vote to lift it.  David Cameron [right] is under mounting pressure from Conservative MPs to honour swiftly the party’s election manifesto pledge to hold a free Commons vote on the ban.  The pro-hunting lobby, which has analysed the views of the MPs elected this month, believes it has achieved the “magic number” of 286 votes it needs to win. The figure is less than half of the 650-member House because the Scottish National Party has said its 56 MPs will not take part. The Countryside Alliance calculates that only about 12 of the 330 Conservative MPs will vote to keep the ban imposed by the Blair Government.

However, the rival League Against Cruel Sports is also lobbying MPs and is confident that more than 12 Tories will vote to maintain the ban. It believes it can win the critical vote, which could be very close. It accused the Countryside Alliance of trying to bounce Tory MPs into believing a decision to repeal the Hunting Act 2004 is inevitable, when it is not.  The forthcoming vote is unlikely to be mentioned in the Queen’s Speech on May 27, as that might divert attention from Mr Cameron’s drive to lead a “one nation” government and end the Tories’ image as the “party of the rich.”  But the Speech traditionally says that “other measures” will follow later in the parliamentary year and Tory MPs are hopeful that there will be a vote in the next 12 months.

Owen Paterson [left], the Conservative former Environment Secretary, said: “The hunting ban is bad legislation, bad for animal welfare and bad for the liberty of people in the countryside. A repeal of this law is a clear manifesto commitment and I am confident we will see it in the Queen’s Speech on May 27.”

Simon Hart [right], a Tory MP and former chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “We need to get on with this and I am sure the Government will want to resolve the matter quickly and efficiently. The commitment to a vote on repeal has been in the manifesto since 2005 and we now have the opportunity to deliver that and get rid of a law that has been a running sore in the countryside for over 10 years.”   He added: “The vast majority of my colleagues understand that this whole debate was never really about hunting or animal welfare, but about Labour MPs having a go at what they thought was an easy Conservative target. The recent election result has shown once and for all that Labour’s obsession with fighting a class war has rendered them unelectable, so it is only right that we remove laws based on this prejudice from the statute book."

Sir Barney White-Spunner [below left], executive chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said: “We are looking forward to the Government delivering its manifesto commitment to a vote on repeal that we think will be won.  The Hunting Act has been a farce from the start and even Tony Blair has admitted that it was a mistake.  The new Parliament has an opportunity to right a wrong that was done 10 years ago and we are confident that MPs will take it”.

Opponents of hunting may appeal to the SNP to take part in the vote, which could tip the balance in their favour. But Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, has said the party’s MPs will vote on matters affecting England only if there are financial implications for Scotland. She has cited the Hunting Act as a no-go area because hunting was banned in Scotland two years earlier than in England.

Chris Pitt, deputy director of campaigns for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “Given the other priorities facing the country at the moment, the public will not stand for the Government bringing forward a vote to bring back hunting so early on in this parliament.  A one-nation Conservative government should listen to the public and their own supporters who are overwhelmingly opposed to bringing back fox hunting, stag hunting and hare coursing. The Hunting Act is supported by 80 per cent of the British public and almost 70 per cent of Conservative supporters. Increasing numbers of Conservative MPs are recognising this and will vote against repeal, so we are confident that if a vote is called it will reflect the will of the British people and uphold the Hunting Act.”  Mr Pitt added: “Repeal of the Hunting Act would be a massive backwards step for animal welfare and we cannot accept the cruelty that it would legalise. We will be working with all the parties, including Conservative MPs who are anti-hunting, to ensure this vital legislation stays on the statute books.”

Albrighton & Woodland fox kill film released by sabs after police drop investigation

28-4-15   Vimeo    On 15-11-14, sabs were at the scene when hounds from the Albrighton and Woodland FH chased a fox in woodland and killed it. Sabs were able to retrieve the corpse.  Riders were on the scene when they emerged with it.  One claimed they had earlier laid a trail in that area.

The sabs reported the incident to the police. The officer appointed to the investigation then decided on no further action without any further communication with the sabs or even watching the video evidence.  The sabs made a formal complaint to West Mercia police, who acknowledged the case should not have been closed so quickly and reopened the investigation.

The sabs say 'We are satisfied the fox kill was then investigated properly. Unfortunately, there was not enough evidence to take this any further. We overheard the Hunt say '"We need to ring this in as an accident."  This is typical, as most Hunts will claim that ALL incidents of hunting are "accidental". This once again proves that the Hunting Act needs strengthening, as Hunts are openly flouting the law on a regular basis.' 

                    Sab retrieves fox body after kill                                    Sab shields corpse from eager hounds

Devon hunt supporter convicted of assault at Xmas party

26-4-15   N.Devon Journal   Holsworthy fox hunting party ended in violence, a court heard   Joshua Lake, of Wood Park, Bideford, appeared at North Devon Magistrates' on Friday and pleaded guilty to assault by beating.  A FOX hunting Christmas party ended in violence after a 25-year-old head-butted a bouncer a court heart.  The incident occurred outside the Memorial Hall in Holsworthy on December 28 last year during a fox hunting group's Christmas party.

The court heard that the defendant had been escorted out of the building before midnight by bouncers. The victim, one of the door staff, Kevin Walker, had tried to stop the defendant getting back into the venue and during the altercation had been head-butted by Lake.  Paul Walters, for the defence, told the court that Lake was of previous good character.  Mr Walters said Lake had got into a discussion with his girlfriend and after someone tried to interfere – he was subsequently thrown out by the bouncers. A  witness statement read out to the court stated that Lake had suffered a graze to the face while the door staff had thrown him out the venue.  Lake had left his jacket and a watch with sentimental value in the hall and wanted to get back inside.  He said he had not intended to head-butt the victim – it was in the heat of the moment to get them to back off.  Before he could apologise to the victim, the police arrived and Lake fled the scene. Mr Walters said he regretted his actions.

Lake was given a 12-month community order and ordered to under-take 80 hours of unpaid work, He must also pay a victim surcharge of £60, costs of £85 and £50 in compensation to the victim.

POWAperson adds - This is just the latest in a line of violent incidents at Hunt parties, the most serious of which ended with the Huntsman of the Tiverton Staghounds being convicted of rape and imprisoned for four years. It's scarcely surprising that people who glory in violence towards defenceless animals also tend to violence towards their fellow humans.

Flint & Denbigh terrierman convicted of assaulting sab

24-4-15    FB – N.Wales Hunt Sabs [Video]      On April 17th, Flint and Denbigh Hunt's terrierman Robert Lee Smith pleaded guilty at Prestatyn magistrates to assault on a hunt saboteur in Trefnant. This video shows Rob Smith's disgusting actions. Smith received a 6 months conditional discharge and was ordered to pay the court £85. 

Pics below -  1/  Smith approaching sab,  2/ Smith about to spit at sab 

PM says 'delighted' with canvassing support from 'Vote OK'

Hunters helping Tories at election include convicts

POWA says 'Judge a man by the company he keeps'  

17-4-15    Western Daily Press    David Cameron 'delighted' with hunt support to swing election Prime Minister David Cameron said he is 'delighted' with the efforts of an army of hunt supporters being mobilised to help the Conservatives win in marginal seats across the West. And Mr Cameron made his own pledge to vote to repeal the ban on hunting after the general election as he welcomed the practical help that Conservative candidates across the West are receiving from hunt supporters.

The Prime Minister has joined the campaigners co-ordinated by an organisation called Vote-OK, which matches coachloads of hunt supporters with general election candidates who support repealing the hated ban on hunting. The Gloucestershire-based organisation said it is targeting specific seats with a strict set of criteria – they only send hunt supporters to canvas, deliver leaflets and stuff envelopes for candidates who support hunting and are in a marginal seat where the main opponent is anti-hunting... He said, personally, he would vote to scrap the Hunting Act. "I've always backed the freedom to hunt. I always thought the law was wrong and I don't think the law is working... I welcome support from wherever it comes... " said Mr Cameron about Vote-OK. "I'm delighted that they want to do that." … 

Anti-hunt groups in the Cotswolds said they object to Mr Cameron's backing of Vote-OK. Penny Little's group Protect Our Wild Animals monitored the Heythrop Hunt and obtained the evidence which led to its convictions after a controversial trial. Members of those monitors were also assaulted by Otis Ferry eight years ago. He and another man were convicted of affray, and more recently ordered to pay thousands in compensation for the incident – money he has not paid, despite bailiffs being sent to his home. "David Cameron seems to have some dubious friends, including Otis Ferry, who assaulted a woman and now refuses to pay the damages a judge awarded to her," said Mrs Little. "His other friends include members of a Hunt which has been convicted of illegally hunting foxes on multiple occasions. Well, they say you can judge a man by the company he keeps, don't they?" she added.

27-3-15   Morning Star   Police favours hunters, say acquitted saboteurs   POLICE were accused of bias in favour of fox-hunters yesterday following the acquittal of four hunt saboteurs charged with aggravated trespass for attempting to aid a wounded deer.  The deer had been attacked by hounds of the Surrey Union Hunt last October when sabs ran to its aid.  Police said there was no evidence it had been attacked by the hunt before allowing the toffs to shoot and kill it.
But leading vet Professor Andrew Knight submitted a report to the trial saying wounds were "highly consistent" with a dog attack. District Judge Turner told the four defendants: "You deserve high praise for managing yourselves and your behaviour."  He added that if they had been allowed access to the deer instead of being arrested it may well have been saved.  Surrey Police announced online it "is currently in the process of reviewing the force approach to hunting and the findings from this case and any lessons learned will be considered as part of the review."  The acquitted sabs added that as fox-hunting has been illegal since 2004 this statement was far from satisfactory.

Female sab allegedly punched in face by S.Herefordshire supporter 

23-3-15   FB – N.Wales Sabs    During our hit on the South Herefordshire the other week, these young whippersnappers were out blocking vehicles, threatening to do our landy's tyres and punching a female sab in the face. Seeing as we stopped them killing any foxes that day, seems like they couldn't bare to have a day without inflicting some violence.

Cheshire hunt hounds cause chaos on busy A51 highway

18-2-15   Chester Chronicle    Dogs left to wander across busy A51 cause traffic chaos   About 15-20 unsupervised dogs caused chaos on the A51 last week. Unsupervised dogs were left to roam the busy A51, narrowly missing speeding cars and causing traffic chaos. A concerned passer-by was so shocked at the sight of at least 20 hounds weaving in and out of moving vehicles on the Clotton road last Tuesday that she contacted The Chronicle to express her shock. The woman, who does not wish to be named, said cars were delayed for at least half an hour as the animals dashed around the road, and it was a ‘miracle’ none of them were killed.
She said: "These hounds were running all over a field next to the main road with their noses to the ground. The traffic was going quickly, cars and buses were going very fast. I crossed the road in the field running around with their noses to the ground, shooting across the road. There were big lorries slamming on brakes and the dogs were running between them, God knows how any of them weren’t killed, I think it was only because the drivers were being vigilant. It was a horrible sight to witness." The woman added: "The traffic was delayed for at least 30 minutes but while all this was going on, a few riders just stood at the sides looking bewildered. In the meantime it delayed many trying to carry out their working day activities. I was just so concerned about the safety of them and wondered why they were not under control - it was extremely dangerous."
A Cheshire police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that at approximately 15.35 on Tuesday, February 10, Cheshire police received a call in relation to traffic disruption on the A51 in Clotton caused by dogs. Officers attended the scene but on arrival there were no dogs visible at the scene by then."

Tedworth FH Huntsman accuses sabs of serious assault on him

Taken to hospital with concussion and broken teeth - police investigating 

Lunesdale FH case fails as prosecution cannot place accused at hunt

Bench say video shown to them did not show illegal hunting

LACS blames collapse of case on CPS failings

23-1-15   Craven Herald    Lunesdale Hunt men cleared on fox hunting charges    THE chairman of the Lunesdale Hunt and its huntsman have been cleared of fox hunting after an all-day trial at York Magistrates' Court. The League Against Cruel Sports claimed it had filmed huntsman Paul Whitehead, 53, directing the hunt's hounds as they pursued one or two foxes on farmland at Ingleton on February 18 last year. But after viewing the League's video and hearing from witnesses who took part in its covert surveillance of the hunt, the magistrates decided there was no evidence that either Mr Whitehead, or Terence Potter, chairman of Lunesdale Foxhounds Ltd, were present on the farmland on the day when fox hunting was alleged to have taken place and there was insufficient evidence that hunting was being carried out.

They threw out charges of fox hunting against both men at the end of the prosecution case.  Mr Potter, 63, of Orton, and Mr Whitehead, 53, of Sedbergh, denied one charge each.  Mr Potter was prosecuted in his capacity as a director of the hunt and the prosecution alleged that he had consented to or connived at fox hunting.  After the case, Adrian Simpson, of the Countryside Alliance, said the two men had had to wait 12 months for the case to be heard and urged the Crown Prosecution Service to look hard at cases where the League provided evidence. "We were extremely surprised, given the evidence and the innocence of the two defendants, that the prosecution even came to court.," he said. The CPS prosecuted the case after the League sent its evidence to North Yorkshire Police, who interviewed the two men under caution. Two days before the case was due to be heard and at the start of the trial, the CPS applied for the trial to be postponed so that one of the League's witnesses could attend. But the defence successfully opposed both applications on the grounds that the CPS had known that the witness was not able to attend in early November and should have applied then for a different date.

Mr Simpson said the defence believed both defendants would have been acquitted even if the missing witness had been able to attend. The magistrates said the video footage was not good evidence against the two men because of the distance between those filming it and the activities they were filming.

21-1-15   LACS PR    League Against Cruel Sports response to Lunesdale Foxhounds Ltd case decision   Commenting on the case against two members of the Lunesdale Foxhounds Ltd for offences in relation to illegal hunting, the League Against Cruel Sports described the result today as disappointing and would be complaining to the Crown Prosecution Service.  The magistrate said today that “The failings of the CPS have not assisted justice in this case,”  Joe Duckworth, Chief Executive at the League Against Cruel Sports said:  “A set of circumstances beyond our control has led to today’s case being dismissed.  The decision not to take this case further is by no means a reflection of the strength of the case or the footage provided by the League’s Investigations Team.”

22-1-15   YouTube film uploaded by LACS    …Due to the failings of the Crown Prosecution Service clear footage of a fox being chased by a pack of hounds (as shown from 01.14 in this video) was not shown in court as evidence - The case was dismissed by the court. This video shows footage captured by our investigators which clearly shows a fox being chased by a pack of dogs.

POWAPerson comments:-  Without access to all of the evidence it is not possible to say definitively why this case failed.  LACS say that the CPS failure to seek re-scheduling of the trial early enough resulted in the court not being able to hear from the main League witness and the investigating police officer. However, it's still not clear why the prosecution were not able to show that either of the accused were even present, let alone that they took part in illegal hunting. Clearly, the bench was shown some film, which they said did not show illegal hunting. The video referred to above by LACS was, the League says, not shown to the court. They don't say why not. However, it is POWAperson's opinion that, though that film does clearly show a fox being pursued by hounds, this also is not adequate evidence of illegal hunting by anybody - even though it seems highly likely that it was being deliberately hunted.

To establish the offence of illegal hunting by an individual [in this case the Huntsman] the prosecution must show that that person 'engaged or participated' in the pursuit by hounds of the fox. The only people that appear at all in this clip are a couple in the far distance at the top of the quarry behind the hounds in the first part and a rider in the far distance in the second. There is really nothing to firmly indicate that they any of them were 'engaging or participating' and they are so far away as to be quite unidentifiable.

Potter, a Director of the Lunesdale, was charged under Section 10 of the Act. To convict here, the prosecution must effectively establish that there was some agreement/conspiracy between at least two Hunt officials to undertake illegal hunting. It is hard to see how the video clip comes anywhere near establishing this. The fact is that the Hunting Act, as was determined by the High Court judgement of 2009, allows a Hunt to search out a wild mammal with a full pack of hounds. Once they have found and started pursuing the wild mammal, hunters are free to allow the dogs to chase it to their hearts' content.

The offence of illegal hunting is only committed if one or more of the hunters, each of whom must be identified, can be shown to have 'engaged or participated' in that chase. The court must be convinced that they intended to engage in illegal hunting. In this case, I think it likely that the bench would have still ruled in the Hunt's favour even if they had seen the LACS clip which they placed on YouTube. How the evidence of the League's main witness might have effected their view is moot.

It seems - and indeed is - ridiculous that the prosecution should have to jump over an evidential bar set so impossibly high. This is precisely why we need to make organised Hunts responsible for the behaviour of their members AND their dogs in the field, Then Hunts will no longer be able to get away with blatant hunting by insisting the prosecution must be able to definitively identify individuals they wish to charge, or by hiding behind the perennial excuse of 'accident', factors which normally mean they don't even get investigated, let alone charged or prosecuted, by the authorities.

Police investigating to see if he fit person to hold firearms licences

10-1-15   Facebook - W.Mids Hunt Sabs   Atherstone FH    We located the hunt north of Barton-in-the-Beans and the sabs immediately entered the field as the hunt were drawing a small wood. The hounds began to speak and so the sabs moved into position. The mounted field then moved forward to act as a block between us and the hounds. It then became apparent that a fox had broke and hounds were speaking frantically... We believed that a fox had gone to ground.

We moved forward, towards the small bank and then the field began to ride at us and attack us. Numerous horses surrounded two sabs and began riding at them frantically. The two sabs tried to support each other from the ferocity of the attack, but then another rider came from behind and rode one of the female sabs down. Whilst she lay on the floor, the rider tried to get their horse to ride over her. The other sab saw the rider inches from her head and jumped onto the sab on the floor and tried to protect her. When she stood up, still guarding the sab on the floor, she was hit in the mouth and head [see right] by a male rider, sustaining a mouth and head injury. Other mounted riders were shouting at the sab on the floor to 'get up you stupid bitch'.

The sab eventually managed to get up off the floor and re-group with the injured sab and the rest of her colleagues. We remained in the field and continued to stand their ground and didn't move until the hunt left the area where we believed a fox had gone to ground. The huntsman eventually took the hounds away... The same person who attacked the sab, looked across and issued a death threat to one of the sabs...

Two Shrops hunters ride on both sides of busy A5 dual carriageway

They were retrieving hounds - one believed injured. Miracle no accidents resulted 

Hunt horse in collision with police car put down because of its injuries

29-12-16   The Sun   HUNT CLASH   ‘Ledbury Hunt worker punches a protester on the ground for trying to save fox hiding in a badger sett’ in shocking video    Hunt saboteurs claim they filmed a terrierman working for the Ledbury Hunt attacking one of their group. SHOCKING video footage allegedly shows a fox-hunter punching and kicking a protester as he lies on the ground [right]. The clip shows masked members of the Bristol Hunt Saboteurs clashing with men they claim were part of the Ledbury Hunt after they had allegedly chased a fox into a badger sett. Video posted online by hunt saboteurs shows a clash with men, who the protesters claim work for the Ledbury Hunt.

The scuffle was caught on video that was apparently filmed yesterday in Castlemorton, Worcs. Video shows one man with his face covered by a scarf approach the group and suddenly leap towards an activist. A second clip allegedly shows the same man – now with his face visible – looming over a sab on the floor and repeatedly punching him. He can then be seen kicking out, before running away when horses and huntsmen appear in the field. It is not clear what happened between the two sections of film as the edited video posted on Facebook goes dark in the middle. The footage is said to have been filmed during the Castlemorton meet in Worcestershire at around midday yesterday.

Saboteurs allege the hunt was attempting to “put a fox up” and digging around a “large badger sett where a fox had taken refuge” – but this was not caught on camera. The attacker is seen swinging a final kick before running away in the shocking video footage. The national Hunt Saboteurs Association is appealing for information about the identity of the alleged terrierman to pass to West Mercia Police.

A spokesman for the group said: “Hunt saboteurs were attacked by terriermen from the Ledbury Hunt at their Castlemorton meet on Wednesday, December 28. The unprovoked attack happened after hounds from the Hunt had chased a fox into a badger sett. Sabs intervened to save the fox and were attacked by the hunt employees. This footage clearly shows the unprovoked attack on sabs by one of the terriermen. He throws a sab to the ground, punches them repeatedly and kicks out at other sabs nearby. We are asking for help to identify this man so that we can pass the information to the police. If you know who he is please pm us on Facebook or contact Bristol saboteurs directly via the email address on the video.”

West Mercia Police said: “We are aware of video footage being circulated and officers are investigating to establish the circumstances and who was involved. No arrests have been made.”

The Ledbury Hunt has been approached for a comment. According to its website the Ledbury Hunt can be traced back to 1846 and rides around Ledbury on the Hereford and Gloucestershire border. The page states: “Prior to the ban on hunting the purpose of taking hounds out was to control the fox population. Foxes do a lot of damage to young livestock and poultry. “In a normal season hounds used to account for an average of 60 brace, equivalent to about two foxes for each hunting day. Until the ban on hunting can be overturned hounds will be encouraged to hunt a false trail and sport will continue to be provided using the various exemptions allowed within the law.”

POWAperson adds - It is a welcome change to see the Sun covering hunt brutality these days. The story was also picked up by the Daily Mail, BBC News, the Mirror, the Bristol Post and the Gloucs Echo.

28-12-16    Facebook - Bristol Sabs    LEDBURY HUNT FAIL TO KILL FOXES AND LAUNCH ATTACK ON SABS   We paid a visit to the Ledbury Hunt today, who met at the Robin Hood Inn, Castlemorton. Shortly after 12 o'clock the Hunt left the meet, with a large number of field and car followers in tow. Sabs announced our arrival by briefly taking the pack from the Huntsman who had put them into a thicket in an attempt to put up a fox. After a quick spin in our vehicles to get ahead of them, we came across them working through a wood and on our approach the Huntsman took the hounds and shot off.

Sabs kept on the Hunt and again caught up with Huntsman, Mark Melladay, who had now changed from his redcoat into black in an attempt to avoid detection. Sabs stayed close as he encouraged the hounds through thick gorse on Castlemorton Common (a trail through there, really?!), before taking off with them at speed as they got on a scent and went into cry. We quickly caught up in our vehicles and followed the Huntsman and hounds along the road, no longer in cry.

After some doubling back and forth, sabs located the Huntsman off his horse with hounds in a wood, never a good sign. Sabs went in to investigate and when the Huntsman realised he had company, left the wood with the hounds and headed back to his horse. Upon reaching the edge of the wood it became clear what was going on, with a number of masked terrierboys hanging around a large badger sett where a fox had taken refuge. Being caught up to no good, they immediately tried to get sabs away from the area, launching an unprovoked attack on them. A few sabs have been left injured. Watch this space for updates.

Despite this attack, we decided to carry on with the Huntsman, with others checking back at the sett shortly afterwards and finding the terrierboys filling in holes they had been digging, before leaving the area. For the rest of the day it was cat and mouse with the Huntsman and hounds, who was never keen to stick around in any one place for long with sabs always on his tail. After a few attempts to lose us, it wasn't long before he was again drawing through the gorse and scrub on the Common, using his voice to encourage hounds through and to put a fox up. Sabs stuck close by and after drawing a few blanks, the Huntsman gathered the pack in fading light before heading back to box up. If the Ledbury Hunt and their terrierboys think violence will stop us from protecting hunted wildlife, they can think again! We'll be seeing you...

Wardens from the Malvern Hills Conservators (the organisation which manages the Malvern Hills and the Commons around it) were also in the area today. This appeared to make the Hunt less keen to spend time on the Common and hills as they did at this same meet last year, when they hunted a fox right up onto the hills. Despite being in the area, none of the wardens were present when the dig out of the badger sett or attack on sabs took place, nor did they appear to intervene when the huntsman was blatantly drawing scrub on the common to put up a fox. A Facebook page has recently been set up to expose the Ledbury Hunt's actions on the Malvern Hills and to encourage the Conservators to ban them from hunting on it. We would ask those of you who are local or who use the hills to give it your support.

Melbreak FH hide fallen hound's corpse under pile of stones

24-12-16   Lancaster Sabs   Cumbria Hunt Watch Press release 22/12/16 - Foxhound which died after falling from steep crag – hidden under stones by hunt    Cumbria Hunt Watch monitors were saddened today to witness a foxhound from the Melbreak hunt die after falling from a steep sided crag at Honister in Cumbria. A group of eight hounds were running towards Honister Quarry when they suddenly turned and attempted to work their way up the very steep sloping scree and crags around Honister; a route which could clearly not have been part of any trail. There is no doubt in the monitors minds that the hounds were chasing a fox. The hounds struggled for some time while hunt officials made no attempt to call the hounds down. One hound was then seen to fall around forty feet before bouncing and then coming to a stop. It remained on the ground not moving.

A monitor from Cumbria Hunt Watch advised the Hunt what had happened but received a casual response. The Master of the Hunt started to call the hounds down, but appeared to have no control. The Huntsman then tried to call the hounds up – a dangerous and irresponsible act, given that one had already fallen to its death. So unconcerned are these people by the life of an animal they didn't even notice until told by a hunt monitor. When monitors went to investigate they discovered a hunt official had attempted to conceal the dog [right]; he had left it there and covered it in rocks, leaving it to decompose on the side of the fell in a water course.

Cumbria Hunt Watch have made a formal complaint to Trading Standards (who deal with carcasses left in the open). Although this did not happen on National Trust land, please contact the National Trust who still facilitate the Melbreak Foxhounds maintenance of a hunting pack by granting them a licence allowing them unhindered access to vast tracks of National Trust land. The National Trust in Cumbria have been advised for years about the suspicious behaviour of the Melbreak Foxhounds but still refuse to ban them from National Trust land. Cumbria Hunt Watch believes this is a deceitful insult to the millions of National Trust members opposed to hunting. Without the disgraceful support of the National Trust and other large landowners, hunting packs such as the Melbreak Foxhounds would no longer be able to continue. Cumbria Hunt Watch would now like to know exactly how the Melbreak hunt 'dispose' of the retired dogs which they claim are no longer of any use. Perhaps Tim Bonner could tell us – he's a great supporter of the Melbreak Email National Trust: borrowdale@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone 017687 74649.

POWAperson comments - The incident is emblematic of the contempt Hunts consistently demonstrate towards the hounds they purport to love. They are nothing more to them than disposable tools of their sick and perverse trade. See this POWA website page for further illustrations and analysis. 

Prominent Tory pro-hunter tries to 'banish' Blue Foxes

24-12-16   Times    Tories urged to sever ties with secretive anti-hunting group    A secretive Conservative anti-hunting group that has received tens of thousands of pounds in donations from unnamed sources should be banished from the party, a former solicitor- general has demanded. Sir Edward Garnier, QC [right], has written to the Tory chairman, Sir Patrick McLoughlin, urging him to sever ties with Conservatives Against Fox Hunting and prevent it from using the party’s name and logo. 

The League Against Cruel Sports gave the group’s founder and her husband a free hotel room at a Tory conference in spite of rules preventing charities from supporting political parties. The Charity Commission said yesterday that it would look into the gift of accommodation as part of its review of the League’s conduct. Sir Edward warned that the Conservative pressure group’s apparent lack of financial transparency and its connections with anti-Tory activism risked damaging the party’s reputation. Conservatives Against Fox Hunting (CAFH) has received tens of thousands of pounds from undisclosed sources, according to Companies House accounts, since it was created in 2010 to stop David Cameron legalising hunting.

The organisation has attracted prominent patrons, including Tracey Crouch [left], the sport minister, Caroline Dinenage, the equality minister, and the backbench MPs Dominic Raab, Sir David Amess and Sir Roger Gale. It was founded by Lorraine Platt, an artist whose husband, Chris Platt, has been chairman and president of Mr Raab’s Esher and Walton Conservative Association.

In 2010 the League Against Cruel Sports provided a hotel room for the Platts at Mr Cameron’s first Tory conference as prime minister in Birmingham. Ms Platt has since become a trustee and vice-chairwoman of the League. CAFH’s accounts for 2013 show that it received £10,000 from an unnamed “animal welfare charity”. The league and the RSPCA told The Times that neither of them was the donor. In a 13-day period after Mr Cameron’s election victory last year, when he promised a free vote on hunting, CAFH received two gifts of £10,000 each. None of the donations has been formally declared to the Electoral Commission, which requires political party members’ organisations to identify their donors. CAFH said that it complied with all rules.

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, urged the commission yesterday to look into the funding. Sir Edward complained that “there is a complete lack of transparency regarding the finances of CAFH”. He pointed out that Ms Platt was the sole shareholder and said that there was no “accountability on how these sums of money have been spent”. Sir Edward also expressed concerns about the close relationship of the group “to organisations that campaign against the Conservative Party”.

The League Against Cruel Sports, which stages joint events with CAFH at Tory conferences, was criticised by the Charity Commission for anti-Tory statements before the 2010 and 2015 elections. The Badger Trust, which has worked with CAFH on campaigns to save badgers and fox cubs, was reprimanded by the charity regulator for unlawful campaigning against the Conservatives.

Sir Edward wrote: “The Conservative Party needs, I suggest, to consider whether or not it is comfortable with a close relationship between groups that market themselves as the animal welfare arm of the Conservative Party and charities that are keen to campaign against the Conservative Party.”

A spokesman for the League Against Cruel Sports said: “In 2010, due to last-minute staff illness, the League had a spare room at a suburban hotel at Conservative Party conference which could not be cancelled. Rather than wasting supporters’ money by leaving it empty, we offered it to two volunteers from Conservatives Against Fox Hunting, with whom we were co-hosting an event. We didn’t cover any of CAFH’s costs at that conference or any following conferences, and we have not made any donations to CAFH.”

CAFH said that the claims against it were nonsense. “Conservatives Against Fox Hunting have complied with all the rules. We are a campaign group within the Conservative Party representing members and MPs advocating the case for retaining the Hunting Act 2004. The attacks on us are a baseless smear.”

The Conservatives said that CAFH was not affiliated to the party. Using the slogan “Don’t run with the pack”, Conservatives Against Fox Hunting burst into politics after David Cameron entered Downing Street threatening to bring back bloodsports. The pressure group, whose supporters are known as Blue Foxes, was launched with a fringe debate at Mr Cameron’s first Tory conference as prime minister, in 2010. It was founded by Lorraine Platt [right], an artist. “How can we influence other countries’ policies on bullfighting or whaling if we reverse a ban that was put in place to prevent cruelty?” she asked. Brian May, the Queen guitarist and animal rights campaigner, has hailed the members as his heroes. The support of a couple of dozen Tory MPs, including the sports minister Tracey Crouch, has helped tilt the parliamentary balance against hunting.

Public pressure makes police reopen Old Surrey FH fox kill case

23-12-16    Facebook – HSA   After public protest, Kent Police have re-opened their investigation against the Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent Hunt, accused of illegally hunting, ending in the killing of a fox on 3/11/16. Big thanks to all who helped with the campaign to get this case properly investigated.

16-12-16  Facebook – N.Downs Sabs    Police give green light to animal cruelty in Kent   We have yesterday learned that Kent police's Investigation Management Unit led by a DI and a DS have decided not to report the Surrey and Burstow and West Kent FH for killing this fox on 3-12-16 at Chiddingstone.

We have made one very brief statement and given them a number of videos (some not in the public domain), but at no stage have the DI or DS contacted the witnesses or discussed the content of the videos with us. The Huntsman has lied about where he was, stated the fox was dead when the hounds ripped it apart when it was very much alive and lied about the number of sabs there and their actions.

Please can everybody complain and demand that Kent police carry out a serious investigation into this obvious case of illegal killing by a fox hunt (a dead body is usually the traditional start of a police investigation) , and interview the witnesses (Sabs ) present, review the videos and interview members of the Hunt, otherwise all they are doing is giving their approval for hunts to kill animals illegally without fear of prosecution! Please contact (keep polite please) the following sites and people and make your views known to Kent police:- http://www.twitter.com/kent_police    https://www.instagram.com/kentpoliceuk/?hl=en    https://www.kent.police.uk/ http://www.kent-pcc.gov.ukLatest

Latest tweet from Kent police, 17-12-16. They claim that a full investigation has taken place, but they haven't contacted any of the witnesses. Kent police tweet saying they have 'exhausted all initial inquiries'. How can they say that if they have not yet interviewed witnesses?

19-12-16   Exeter Express & Echo   Video appears to show hunt saboteur assaulted on a Devon farm   An online video of a confrontation between saboteurs and members of a hunt appears to show a woman saboteur being assaulted at a Devon farm. The 87-second video was posted by the Devon County Hunt Saboteurs group on its Facebook page. The group claims the incident happened at Crooke Burnell, North Tawton, during a meet of the Eggesford Hunt on Saturday.

The video shows footage of a cameraman and the woman being confronted by a rider, who tells them to leave the land as it is private. The pair agree to leave, and are followed by riders along a track to a farmyard, where a man appears on foot. He swears at them and appears to strike the woman on the back of the head. There was no response to calls from the Echo leaving messages at a contact number for the hunt and at the hunt kennels at Wembworthy, near Chulmleigh. A message was also left at the farm where the incident was said to have happened. No one was available from the Devon County Hunt Saboteurs to discuss the incident.

The video starts with footage of a rider appearing through a gate on a track towards the camera. In the background, around a dozen riders, some wearing red jackets and some black, head down a track away from the camera towards a wind farm. The rider, a man wearing a black jacket and riding hat and carrying a horse whip, says: "Right, you're on private property, and you're not allowed on here, so please remove yourself." A woman replies: "We wondered whether it was, but we didn't see the sign." The rider says: "You're on private property, there's no footpath on this farm, so go back to the road now please." The woman responds: "I did wonder but there wasn't a sign saying private so we didn't know." The rider says: "Doesn't matter. It's a private farm, there's no footpath. Off now, please go." The woman replies OK, as more riders appear, with a man and woman on horseback flanking the first rider. A second male rider then approaches the camera and waves his hand, saying, "Go on, go on, you were asked to leave." The cameraman replies, "All right, all right, don't ride your horse at me." The first rider says, "You're on my farm and it's private property," as the cameraman replies, "We're leaving, we're leaving."

The footage shows the horses being ridden along the track, following a woman alongside the camera, as a horseman shouts, "Go, go," and the man replies, "Don't ride your horses at us." The riders follow the cameraman  and the woman along the track [right], with a man on foot behind the two horses. A rider shouts again, "Go, go, let's go" and the cameraman replies, "We can't leave any quicker". Someone says, "You could run," and a voice shouts, "Come on hurry up", then the cameraman shouts in alarm as a horse comes close to the woman, who is wearing a scarf over the lower part of her face, as she walks alongside a breeze block wall. She says "Don't do that", as there are shouts of "Go on get off" and "Clear off", and the man and woman pass through a farm gate. The footage shows a farm yard with parked vehicles then a stocky middle aged man appears on foot, shouting, "Right get out then", as the man with camera says repeatedly, "We're leaving". The man on foot, wearing a flat cap, red jumper and khaki sleeveless jacket, and blue trousers tucked into wellington boots [right], runs towards the couple, shouting, "You're f***ing leaving all right". He shouts "get f***ing moving" and appears to strike the woman on the head [above left], then she screams and runs forward. The cameraman shouts, "Get off her," and the woman cries "Don't do that." the pair run from the yard as the man shouts, "Get the f*** out of here". The cameraman then shouts, "We'll be calling the police about that," and the footage ends as the pair walk along the road away from the farm.

The incident is said to involve Eggesford Hunt, on Saturday, December 17, and the location of the incident is given as Crooke Burnell, North Tawton. According to the website of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, Eggesford Hunt operates in around 400 square miles of Mid Devon, where records date back to 1858 when the land was hunted by Lord Portsmouth.

20-12-16   Daily Mail    'Get the f*** out of here': Hunt saboteurs say they were charged at by a horse in a foul-mouthed clash with riders and farmers    A shocking video shows a hunt saboteur clashing with riders and farmers before being charged at by a horse and bombarded with obscenities. Expletive-laden footage captured the entire violent confrontation at Crooke Burnell, North Tawton, Devon, which was sparked when a huntsman shouts at a cameraman and the woman to leave his private land.

The pair agree to depart but are escorted and followed by riders along a track to a farmyard where another man wearing a flat cap appears on foot. The huntsman then runs towards the couple, shouting, 'You're f****** leaving all right'. He then yells 'get f****** moving' and appears to strike the woman on the head. The victim screams and runs forward before the cameraman shouts, 'get off her,' and the woman cries 'don't do that.' The pair then run from the yard as the man shouts, 'get the f*** out of here'. The cameraman then warns that they will be contacting police and the 90 second footage ends as the pair walk along the road away from the farm. The pair agree to depart but are escorted and followed by riders along a track to a farmyard.

The group claims the incident happened during a meet of the Eggesford Hunt on Saturday. The video has been posted by the Devon County Hunt Saboteurs group on its Facebook page. No-one from the hunt, which is based at Wembworthy, near Chulmleigh, has so far been available to comment. According to the website of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, Eggesford Hunt operates in around 400 square miles of Mid Devon, where records date back to 1858 when the land was hunted by Lord Portsmouth.

POWAperson adds :-  Another Eggesford FH hunt-supporting farmer [though it could be the same man] was convicted of assaulting a sab and bound over in 2006.

Kent police drop investigation into Old Surrey FH fox kill

18-12-16   Facebook – Kent Live    Police reach dead end on probe after animal rights activists claim hounds illegally killed fox    Kent Police has revealed the trail has gone cold in a probe launched after animal rights activists claim they recorded a fox being illegally hunted to death [left]. The anti-hunt activists claim hounds hunting on December 3, at around 3.30pm, as the Old Surrey Burstow & West Kent Hunt "ripped apart" the fox which they claimed they took to a vet, but which later died. Their video shows the hounds on the top of the fox in woodland, understood to be near Oakenden Lane in Chiddingstone Hoath. The fox is then removed from the pack by a member of the Hunt Saboteurs Association. The Association reported the incident to Kent Police.

But one of the hunt's organisers, Mark Bycroft, said the hunt had been a legal trail hunt and up to nine scented tracks had been laid for the hounds to follow. He said because the saboteurs cause disruption to the trail hunt by using recordings and hunting horns to confuse the hounds, if any incident involving a fox had occurred it would have been their fault.

Police told Kent Live at the time officers would be meeting with the informant, but this afternoon Kent Police said "officers have exhausted all initial enquiries". A spokesman provided contact details for anyone to get in touch if they had more information.

S.Shropshire FH follower backs landy into passer-by's car

18-12-16    Facebook - Cheshire Sabs    Here we have "Mr Stupid" a South Shropshire Hunt supporter blocking the public highway, driving without due care and attention and reversing straight into a completely innocent road users vehicle. The footage speaks for itself!

Coastguard rescue scramble to save IoW FH hound that went over cliff

17-12-16   Island Echo    Fox hound ‘over cliff’ prompts coastguard response    The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team responded to reports of a dog going over the cliff edge near Compton this afternoon (Saturday). At shortly before 13:40, Solent Coastguard received several calls from members of the public reporting that a dog had possibily gone over the cliff near Compton Farm on Military Road. It was reported there was no owner present. Arriving on the scene, Coastguard Officers established that the dog was a rouge fox hound that had become separated from a nearby meet. Thankfully, the hound managed to save itself from the cliff and proceeded East in the search of the rest of it’s pack, evading members of the Coastguard team and Police. The dog was last seen heading across land in close proximity to it’s pack, with huntsmen tracking it.

Monitors film Grafton FH hunting 3 foxes in meets 3 days apart

16-12-16    YouTube     Grafton Hunt chase three foxes over two days    Monitors filmed the Grafton Hunt chasing three foxes over two consecutive days' hunting. The Hunting Act must be strengthened to stop this happening - it urgently needs a recklessness clause to stop the distressing state of affairs which currently exists, almost 12 years after the ban came into force.

POWAperson adds:-  The first chase was filmed on 26-11 near Helmdon. Across a lake, a fox is seen running across a grass field. It is followed seconds later by hounds. The mounted Huntsman appears soon after. Three days later, at Potcote, an apparently beaten fox is seen fleeing across a field. Hounds soon emerge, following the same line, closely followed by Huntsman and riders. Hunters are told they're being filmed and it initially seems they are stopping hounds [though the offence has already been committed] but the Huntsman then leads hounds and field towards where the fox has gone, only to turn and come back to the road not long after. It is clear that the Grafton knew monitors were present and filming, yet they appear to have blatantly hunted foxes, almost as if they had no fear of prosecution. Which, given the many deficiencies of the Act, the reluctance of police and CPS to act against them and the poor track record of the CPS on the rare occasions they do take organised hunters to court, is scarcely surprising. The spirit and letter of the Hunting Act 2004 are being, as a former Chief Inspector of the CPS wrote, 'extensively flouted'. Even in spite of the problems with the Act, the authorities could do better than they are to rein them in, but Hunts will carry on pursuing and killing live quarry until the Act is substantially strengthened. Please support POWA's efforts in our campaigntostrengthenthehuntingact.com.

Pics below -   1/  Fox flees hounds 26-11-16    2/   Hounds seconds behind fox  

   3/  Huntsman seconds behind fox & hounds     4/   Beaten fox flees hounds  29-11-16 

   5/   Hounds on line of fox      6/   Huntsman, riders, hounds return       

Upbraded, owner says the horse 'deserved' it and abuses monitor 

15-12-16   You Tube      A highly experienced monitor was driving slowly behind two Grafton FH riders when she saw one of them twice hit his horse very hard with his riding crop. She quickly switched on her dash-cam and caught him doing it again. Driving alongside, she told the rider off in no uncertain terms. The rider's female ompanion then turned her horse around and shouted that the horse 'deserved it' and that it was her horse and she'd treat it any way she liked.

Foxes, deer, hares and mink are far from being the only animal victims of organised hunters. Sabs and monitors often witness horses being maltreated and ridden in dangerous fashion. POWAperson himself, whilst a monitor in the '90s, saw two hunt horses die during hunts because their riders had pushed them too hard, one of them on a deer hunt on a very hot day in August. Hounds, of course, are treated appallingly, culled ruthlessly if they commit various 'crimes' and routinely murdered when they reach the age of six/seven and are judged no longer fit to keep up with the pack. Pets, livestock and non-quarry wildlife that get in the hounds' way are terrified or even killed. Road and sometimes rail users are obstructed, sometimes endangered, by the hunters' selfish actions. Hunters demonstrate again and again that, for them, animal and even human welfare comes nowhere compared with their perverted lust for the chase. It is incredibly frustrating to monitors, sabs and other antis that these monsters continue to be treated by the authorities and often the media as though they were decent 'pillars of the community'.

Please watch and share the other films on 'scorpiovulpes' channel to see both frequent illegal hunting and appalling behaviour towards monitors.  

Police informed and they unblocked two of them themselves!

11-12-16   Facebook - 3 Counties Sabs    Saturday 10th December 2016, Cotswold Hunt, Castlebarn Farm, Turkdean, North Cotswold badger cull zone    We were out early for this one and it was pitch block in the field on sett blocking patrol. At the first sett we went to check we had just missed them and heard the quad leave. There was the usual scene of carnage with every entrance impacted with earth and one entrance had a log rammed down it. We informed the police and continued to sett check. At the next one as we were confirming that it was very active a quad approached the small covert and drove around it before leaving. Had he come to block it and thought better of it? It had been blocked before, repeatedly with the badgers still there despite sett blocking, cull and who knows what other pressures. We hope that we deterred him. Other setts were found to be unblocked and active. We then met 2 Gloucestershire police officers who went to the blocked sett and unblocked every single entrance and wish to thank them for their timely response.

The Hunt met at 12.00 and we saw them draw the covert where the sett had been blocked. It was very wet and they didn't seem to be finding much (foxes retreat to shelter in such weather much of the time). They then crossed over to where the Heythrop were hunting just last Saturday in a large landlocked area between Turkdean and Cold Aston and where 5 setts were blocked. So the foxes that were hunted there last week and survived were once more at risk a week later. One badger sett that was blocked last week was blocked again this week, twice trashed within 7 days just so people can illegally hunt foxes.

The impact on badgers can be suffocation as they try to dig their way out and get caught between the earth behind them as they dig and the earth impacted by the rain. They often do dig their way out but some don't make it. Foxes ,who often enjoy living in badger setts, are denied an escape route from the hounds. It takes hours to dig out a badger sett, not long at all to get into an artificial earth, a terrier can bolt a fox quickly from one of these to be hunted again, needless to say the AEs are often left unblocked. Sad to say later we saw the Heythrop, or it may have been the North Cotswold, in the dark packing up near Stow. Both Hunts would have done exactly the same in the areas they were hunting.

Other 3C sabs sabbed the CVFH from Aston Crews along with Bristol and South Wales. Report to follow.

Pics below -   1/   Sett blocked with stave and packed earth    2/   Freshly blocked sett with spade marks

10-12-16   Facebook - Guildford Hunt Saboteurs    As we suspected the Surrey Union hounds have kennel cough we headed to the Crawley and Horsham hunt with North Downs Hunt Sabs to join up with West Sussex Hunt Sabs whom were already with the Hunt. Clearly upset at the sab presence, riders (again) used their horses as weapons and charged towards sabs, deliberately trying to ride sabs down on several occasions - one rider has had his details taken by police.

Nearer the end on the day by new buildings plantation we noticed a fox bolt just meters in front of us, with hounds in deep cry just behind we covered the area in citronella. At this point, the whipper-in stayed where the fox had crossed and tried to hit a sab with his whip... and failed. As hounds quickly approached other sabs arrived and we used old school sabbing tactics to call the hounds off the scent, much to the dismay of some of the Hunt whom started behaving violently again. After the traumatic kill on the Burstow last week it was great to be able to save at least one fox today. Run free.

Oakley FH thug hits female sab then tries to spray eyes of others

Gizmo stolen from female victim - police treat sabs as criminals 

10-12-16   Facebook – S.Cambs Sabs   VIDEO   Hit Report – 10/12/2016 Oakley Hunt, St John's Arms, Melchbourne   We went just over the Cambs border today with N.Cambs, Suffolk And Essex, Cambridge and Beds & Bucks Hunt Sabs to sab the Oakley. Using several groups of foot sabs, the various groups managed to manoeuvre round the regular hunt 'stewards' to keep tabs on the hunt all day. The drivers did a sterling job keeping an eye on the Hunt as they paraded through villages with hounds all over the roads.

Sadly the hounds looked very thin and did not appear to be in good health. Jack Harris, the less than competent Huntsman, lost control of the hounds several times during the day as they ran across fields in every direction! Hounds ran across a road rioting after a fox and sabs entered the field to intervene, using the gizmo, horn and voice calls to distract hounds.

The hunt thugs followed and assaulted sabs. One large thug attacked and took a female sab to the ground, hitting her in the face and then stealing our group gizmo. His friend then attempted to spray red dye into the eyes of sabs - who knows what damage this could have caused (video evidence is being looked at and will follow).

On top of this, thugs then falsely accused sabs of stealing their property - ironic as they are the ones that stole from us! Police threatened the sabs - the victims of assault and theft - with arrest. They were generally hostile to sabs, and searched sabs but did not search the thugs when sabs explained they had stolen from them. We wonder if this biased behaviour has anything to do with them hanging around and chatting with the violent 'stewards' for much of the day!

However, at the end of the day all the sabs, and the local wildlife were safe - and the Hunt packed up early at around 2.30, wet and miserable. Another eventful but successful day!

Sabs save fox chased to ground by Cotswold Vale FH

10-12-16 Facebook - Bristol Sabs   Off back to the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt this morning, along with sabs from South Wales, Bath & Three Counties.

They met at Aston Crews on the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire border and we soon found them not far away with riders on point and hounds picking up in a wood. We shot off to catch up with them and the huntsman took his hounds and ran, which set the tone for the rest of the day. The Huntsman was quickly drawing through another covert with sabs close by, so we decided to take the hounds with the use of a hunting horn. This tested the hunts temper somewhat and it wasn't long before hunt supporters were (unsuccessfully) trying to throw their weight around.

Despite the Hunt covering a lot of ground, hilly terrain and poor weather conditions, in our various groups we ensured that sabs were always with the hunt, often second guessed their movements meaning we were ahead of them.

Towards the end of the day we came across the hounds marking to ground in a badger sett, where a fox they had been chasing was taking refuge. Sabs were straight in there rating hounds and when the Huntsman realised he had company he gathered the hounds and took off. We waited around for a while as a quad was also hanging about, but other sabs were in place to rate hounds when they were in cry close by immediately after.

With visibility becoming increasingly poor and no luck with these foxes, the Hunt were packing up just before 3.30. A very successful day and a bunch of damp but happy sabs.

9-12-16   Daily Record    Dumfries carer’s horror at fox hunt kill in his back garden in Heathhall   Daniel Sauberlich described the incident as "bizarre and brutal" when a pack of 10 dogs attacked a fox in the busy housing estate. A carer was left shocked after a fox was mauled by a pack of hounds in his back garden during a hunt. Daniel Sauberlich saw the fox run past his window pursued by a pack of 10 dogs in Herries Avenue, Heathhall, on Saturday afternoon. Home carer Daniel, 28, said: “I can’t begin to describe the shock and disbelief at this barbaric event happening in our own garden, let alone if our children or dog were in it at the time. “I went to the back door and opened it and saw the fox staring at me. It started running towards me but just before it got to me the dogs grabbed it, shook it around a bit, killed it and left. It’s still so surreal I can’t believe it happened. Before this I didn’t have an opinion on fox-hunting but I’m really against it now. I could hear horns nearby so it must’ve been a hunt. To see it happen in a housing estate is just unreal.”

Robbie Marsland, of the League Against Cruel Sports Scotland, said: “From what we’ve heard this is a classic example of illegal hunting going very wrong. This comes at a crunch point as an official inquiry has just called for the law to be strengthened. We are calling on the Scottish Government to act quickly and really ban fox-hunting in Scotland – for good.”

Police are appealing for witnesses. The Dumfriesshire and Stewartry Foxhounds failed to comment on the matter.

7-12-16   Facebook – W.Mids Sabs  VIDEO   Iron bar wielding hunt supporter attacks sabs   Atherstone Hunt - Kennels - Saturday 3rd December 2016.   During Saturday's kennel meet, an Atherstone Hunt supporter ran at sabs whilst waving an iron bar in the air [right] before attacking sabs. He can be heard threatening to steal and break their camera. He then attacks sabs for a second time taking two sabs to the ground. Luckily sabs escaped without any serious injuries.

This latest violent episode from the Atherstone Hunt follows on from another Atherstone supporter ramming their car into the sabs vehicle before shouting a tirade of sexist abuse at them. The week before sabs were again attacked and had their cameras stolen by an Atherstone Hunt supporter. Our vehicle needs some immediate repairs. We are already grateful for the support that you have shown us this season especially after the recent thefts so any donation will be gratefully received.

Police powers to unmask protesters enhanced, says CA

7-12-16   Countryside Alliance    Police powers to unmask violent protestors eased     The House of Lords has today (7 December) passed a Government amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill which makes it easier for the police to tackle violent masked protestors. The amendment is a response to concerns that current powers cannot be used by the police in response to many protests by animal rights activists, other extremists and ‘flash mobs’. The amendment means that a senior police officer will be able to give immediate oral authorisation for a constable to remove face-coverings, where it is impracticable for that authorisation to be given in writing. The law currently requires prior written authorisation that the police have grounds for reasonable belief that activities may take place in an area that are likely to involve the commission of offences. The conditions and protections remain exactly the same, but the fast track process will now allow the police to tackle a serious issue both in rural communities and elsewhere.

Research by the Countryside Alliance using the Freedom of Information Act published earlier this year revealed that the powers had only been used on one occasion in the past three years to require animal rights activists at a hunt to remove face coverings, despite the use of masks to intimidate and hide identity being a standard tactic of hunt saboteurs. The powers had been used on many occasions in relation to pre-arranged demonstrations and football matches. Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “There are only two reasons for wearing masks and face-coverings in the context of a protest: to intimidate and harass, and to hide identity with the intention of committing criminal offences and avoiding prosecution. This is a tactic that has worked, not only by creating alarm and distress in rural communities visited by groups of extremists who have adopted the uniform of the paramilitary complete with standard black face coverings, but also in allowing offences to be committed crimes without any legal consequences. From Wiltshire to Derbyshire; from Gloucestershire to Yorkshire there have been a series of violent assaults by hunt saboteurs in the last few years, none of which have seen anyone brought to justice. It doesn’t matter if violence and intimidation are happening in urban areas or the countryside, it is wrong and it’s only right that police officers are in the position to be able to tackle effectively potentially criminal behaviour wherever it arises. We are therefore delighted that the Government has recognised the need to amend the law, recognising that the police need greater flexibility faced with modern types of protests. The amendment does not extend police powers, but makes it more practical to use existing powers and we now expect the police to make full use of them. For too long a small minority have hidden behind masks and disguises to intimidate people and to escape being held account for unlawful behaviour. This change in the law will discourage unlawful activity, whilst allowing lawful and peaceful protest.”

POWAperson comments - Sabs wear face-coverings to try to stop hunters identifying them because, from experience, they know this may well lead to their being attacked by hunters at sab homes or elsewhere. Presumably the new police powers will apply equally to the hunt thugs who frequently mask up [as do some huntsmen]. In the case of the followers, masking is to avoid being identified when they carry out assaults, thefts and criminal damage on sabs and monitors, all frequent occurrences. Attacks by antis on hunters are very rare. Hopefully, police will use their new powers equitably, though past experience suggests probably not.

Some examples of masked-up hunters -

Bloodstains and fur remains suggest Fife FH hounds killed fox

5-12-16   Facebook – Perthshire Sabs   Fife Foxhounds met at Edenwood House    Before they set off, Galpin the terrierman arrived to rant at us and film us. The Hunt left the meet and started hunting in the woods at the back of Edenwood farm. A fox actually ran into the corner of the woods they were hunting. We think the fox then likely bolted towards and over the A963 towards the hill of Tarvit. The hunt went this way and then we lost them - we have never done this meet before so had no idea of where they might go.

Eventually we found them again. it was actually a member of the public who helped us find where they were, after we spotted some hunt support vehicles. She was shocked that hunting happened in Scotland and was glad when she realised we were against them. She had been watching them for at least half an hour, hunting in Cairngreen wood. We looped round to the B940 and headed up the field towards where we could hear Robert the Huntsman drawing the woodland, but as we got closer it was all quiet, we found the Hunt at the other side of where we entered the woodland. Riders grouped together and Robert (huntsman) off his horse, he started to blow long wavering calls on his horn (very much like a blow for a kill) and as we got closer and we were seen, Galpin the terrierman got a bag from his quad. He picked something up and various smaller bits, putting them into the bag, then most of the hunt left. Two riders returned to film us as Galpin got back to his quad with the bag. He put the bag in his box then drove away. The two riders then left.

We studied the ground where they had been and found blood splatters and some fur, the fur was grey with orange/fox red tips, so looks like the hunt had been celebrating the kill before we arrived. We don't think the fox was killed at that spot, likely brought to where all the riders were so the hounds could rag it in front of them as we don't think there was enough blood to show it had been killed there. We did not hear any gunfire as we approached so we are guessing the hounds killed this fox, but sadly we were too late to get any evidence of this. By talking to others in the area, this fox must have been hunted for at least an hour before being killed. So much for quick and humane flushing foxes to waiting guns.

Brownie points for the police attending today for being nice to sabs and giving them a lift back to their vehicle.

Pics below:- Top right - Fife FH    Top right - Fox fleeing   Bottom right - Terrierman gathers fox remains  

Bottom left - Fur and blood remnants 

See other pics here 

Belvoir FH kill three foxes, two in grounds of nursing home

Female sab allegedly assaulted by the Huntsman

4-12-16   HSA Press Release   Belvoir Hunt Kill Foxes in Grounds of Nursing Home   Yesterday, The Duke of Rutland's hounds, the Belvoir Hunt, chased and illegally killed three foxes. The Hunt met at The Wolds Farm near Holwell, Leicestershire. Initially sabs were able to take the hounds off huntsman John Holliday in two locations as he encouraged hounds to hunt a nearby covert and hedge. Unfortunately by the time sabs had caught up with him in a farmyard near Scalford Hall, hounds were already tearing apart a terrified fox they had cornered in the yard [right].Holliday sat watching making no attempt to control his pack. Sabs immediately intervened and were able to recover the still conscious fox. At this point Holliday dismounted and assaulted a female sab. The fox was unable to be saved due to extensive wounds and died in the sabs arms.

The police and Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, who were both present on the day, confirmed that immediately prior to this incident two other foxes were killed by the Hunt in the grounds of a nearby nursing home. The police were alerted by a horrified member of the public. All three foxes have been taken as evidence by Leicestershire Police.

Earlier this year, the Belvoir were implicated in the keeping of captive foxes to be illegally hunted. Members of the Hunt subsequently attacked the two League Against Cruel Sports investigators who had exposed them, putting one of them in hospital with a broken neck. They are currently awaiting a court case in 2017.

Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “2016 has shown the world exactly what the Belvoir hunt are like. They were implicated in keeping captive foxes, then viciously assaulting those who had exposed them. Now as the year draws to a close they brazenly hunt and kill three foxes in the presence of Leicestershire Police. Members of Leicestershire Police, including former wildlife crime officer Sharon Roscoe, are known to ride with the Belvoir and we hope this doesn't influence any investigation. It is perhaps fortunate that the Leicestershire PCC was also present on the day to insist that this latest law breaking by the Belvoir is not brushed under the carpet.”

5-12-16  Leicester Mercury   Belvoir Hunt: Police launch investigation after three foxes killed by hounds  Police have launched an investigation into the conduct of the Belvoir Hunt after three foxes were killed by hounds. Crime commissioner Lord Willy Bach was observing the policing of the event and said he was shocked to see the bodies of the animals "ripped to bits by hounds". The event, on Saturday, was also being monitored by hunt saboteurs who took pictures of the savaged foxes. Under the Hunting Act of 2004 it is illegal to hunt mammals with dogs.

Repeated attempts by the Mercury to contact the hunt to get their side of what happened had failed to get a response by the time the newspaper went to press. But the Countryside Alliance, which supports field sports, said: "The Hunt has launched an urgent investigation to establish exactly what happened on Saturday. At this stage they are very busy investigating and they cannot comment further.

The hunt saboteurs claim that two killings were carried out by hounds in the grounds of a nursing home. They managed to rescue a badly injured third which died in the arms of one of the saboteurs.

Lord Bach said: "I attended the Belvoir Hunt on Saturday with the police as part of my determination to learn more about rural issues. The police in my view performed a difficult task with great skill and professionalism. I was shocked by seeing the bodies of three dead foxes, ripped to bits by hounds. I fully support a police inquiry into the events leading to this outcome, when the Hunting Act 2004 makes it clear that the intentional killing of mammals is illegal. I am determined as Police and Crime Commissioner that the law, as decided by Parliament, will be upheld in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland."

The saboteurs claimed hounds chased and illegally killed three foxes.

Flint & Denbigh FH chase fox across main road, Huntsman keeps losing hounds

3-12-17  Facebook – N.Wales Sabs   Hit report 3/12/16   Today in Cefn near St.Asaph, joined by Cheshire Sabs and members of Lancaster sabs, we thought we'd pop along and help the Flint and Denbigh 'trail hunt' make sure they didn't accidently illegally hunt any foxes. OK, truth be told, this Hunt haven't a clue about laying trails and there's no accident in their illegal hunting. From the off these bumpkins were angry, with one of the riders threatening sabs "There's going to be trouble today". Why so angry? We can only guess, maybe because they had to cancel last weeks meet? Maybe because of all you naughty people who've asked Denbigh Council to cancel their Boxing Day parade? Or maybe because of all current police investigations involving this Hunt and some of its members? Police didn't turn up today, so the Hunt took that as a green light to block roads, ride at sabs and make threats. At one point the Hunt chased a fox across a main road across a river and almost to St.Asaph, across land they should not be on, with some hounds ending up near St.Asaph football pitches! Good job for sabs being around to stop hounds from getting killed on this busy road.

Huntmaster Jeremy Reed was quite a while in coming to collect his hounds, In doing so he lead more hounds onto the main road, almost into oncoming traffic. The Huntmaster didn't even bother to collect all the hound before he returned to Cefn, leaving some along by the river between Wigfair and St.Asaph. Jeremy had really lived up his reputation of being a scatterpack. Hounds were everywhere and hunters had their tweeds in a twist. Usually hunt thug bullies were on form too. obviously the pressure is getting to them. The whipper-in had a busy day looking for Jezza's lost hounds, as Jezza himself headed up to the tops above Cefn. The hounds went into cry a few times but only in short bursts as sabs were able to keep watch.

Sabs film fox being killed by Old Surrey FH - police investigate

3-12-16     HSA Press Release   VIDEO    Serial Fox killers Strike Again    The Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent Hunt illegally chased and killed a fox today despite the efforts of hunt saboteurs who were seconds away from saving it. The Hunt met at the Spotted Dog Pub, Smarts hill, South West of Tonbridge, Kent. Huntsman Mark Bycroft and his gang of bully boys have history of illegally killing foxes and attacking anyone who tries to stop them. They had already chased one fox before killing one in Frienden Gill Wood at approximately 3pm. The hunt terrier men had holloaed to inform the Bycroft that a fox had been spotted. Hounds then went into cry and chased it for between 5 and 10 minutes before ripping it apart in the wood. Hunt staff were nearby throughout and made no attempt to stop the hounds. Hunt saboteurs arrived just as the hounds were ripping the fox apart but were unable to save it. They retrieved the body [right] and it has been taken to a sympathetic vet for autopsy. The incident is now being investigated by Kent Police. Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “Mark Bycroft has previous convictions for assaulting hunt saboteurs. His hunt have also been filmed illegally chasing and killing foxes but have never been prosecuted for this due to the inadequacies of the police and the Hunting Act. We hope this time it will be different but won't hold our breath. Whether they get prosecuted or not this video footage speaks for itself. The Old Surrey, Burstow and West Kent are a bunch of rural law breakers who think they are above the laws of the land. Well done to the sabs present who, although they weren't able to save this particular fox have again highlighted the reality of hunting since the ban.”

4-12-16  KentLive   Hunt saboteurs claim they have filmed a fox being illegally hunted to death near Tunbridge Wells    Animal rights activists claim they have recorded a fox being illegally hunted to death by members of members of the Old Surrey Burstow & West Kent Hunt near Tunbridge Wells yesterday afternoon. Their video shows a pack of dogs attacking a fox in woodland, understood to be near Chiddingstone. The fox is then removed from the hounds by a member of the Hunt Saboteurs Association. The Association says the matter has now been reported to police.

One of the Hunt's organisers Mark Bycroft today denied any criminal activity had taken place and insisted members had gone about a legal trail hunt.  “I understand they found a dead fox in the wood but I wasn't there at the time so I don't know what has happened," he told Kent Live. "We had about 25 people on horses and 40 to 50 people on foot. There were about three Landrovers of the saboteurs - they come every week trying to disrupt what we are doing. They use hunting horns and play recordings and try to disrupt the hounds. If an incident has happened they are to blame."

Hunting with dogs has been illegal in England since 2005. To get round the ban hunts lay scent-based trails which the hounds follow instead of a live animal. Mr Bycroft said eight or nine trails had been laid in the area yesterday. A spokesman for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said the video had been shot in Frienden Gill Wood at approximately 3pm. They added: "Hunt saboteurs arrived just as the hounds were ripping the fox apart but were unable to save it. They retrieved the body and it has been taken to a sympathetic vet for autopsy. The incident is now being investigated by Kent Police."

A Kent Police spokesman said: "Police were called at 3.33pm on Saturday 3 December 2016 to a report that a fox had been killed by dogs in Oakenden Lane, Chiddingstone Hoath. Officers have arranged to meet with the informant to obtain further information."

Pics below -    1/    Hounds killing the fox   2/  Sab retrieves the corpse from hounds

4-12-16    Daily Mail    Helpless fox is torn to shreds and left with its intestines hanging from its body after a pack of vicious hounds brutally mauls it to death during an 'illegal hunt'     Shocking video footage shows the moment a pack of vicious hounds brutally mauls a fox to death during an apparent illegal hunt. The clip, shot on Saturday, shows the group of more than 20 dogs attack a helpless fox before it is plucked from the melee by an anti-hunt campaigner. Its lifeless and dismembered body was then hauled over the shoulder of a man who walked off into the woodland with the pack of yelping canines behind him. The fox's intestines can be seen hanging from its body while an activist carried the fox away in Chiddingstone Hoath, near Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The Hunt Saboteurs Association said the video, apparently featuring members of the Old Surrey Burstow & West Kent Hunt (OSB), has now been passed onto the police. On its website, the OSB says it was founded in 1999, but has roots dating back to 1866, when a hunt called The Burstow began as a harrier pack. The group now hosts an annual black-tie £70 ball at the Effingham Park Hotel near Crawley, West Sussex, for its members, as well as a puppy show judged by 'visiting masters and huntsmen'....

4-12-16    Facebook – N.Downs Sabs    ...the kill happened at 3.03 pm in woods at Frienden gill to the south of Chiddingstone Hoath after the terrierman holloaed a fox away from a wood near home farm the hounds were in full cry for about ten minutes before the kill ,sabs tried to call the hounds off and managed to get some of the pack off but sadly they managed to kill seconds before two sabs got there. The sabs managed to recover the body. We are all very upset and feel that we let the fox down. Please share these photos and the video on this site and the Guildford sabs site so people realise what goes on in the countryside and expose the myth of trail hunting for the lie it is ! 

 Atherstone FH supporter's tirade of abuse after sab car rammed

1-12-16    Facebook -W.Mids Sabs    VIDEO   Atherstone Hunt - Tuesday 29th November 2016 - Sutton Cheney   Desperation is setting in at the Atherstone Hunt now, days after assaulting sabs and stealing their cameras. Two Atherstone supporters were filmed ramming their car into the sabs' vehicle in frustration. This was followed by a tirade of sexist verbal abuse as well as threatening to punch one of the female sabs.

The number of riders has dropped to five, and the Hunt are still without a Whipper-In. We don’t need to say any more just watch the video. The Atherstone Hunt, the mind boggles. Thank you to all everyone who generously donated towards a new camcorder after the Atherstone violently stole it on Saturday, we now just need to replace the stolen body camera - donate.

Supporter says  -     "You fat fucking bitch... fucking whore... "  etc

HSA welcomes but also criticizes Bonomy Review

21-11-16  HSA Press Release    Scottish Hunting Act Reviewed    Lord Bonomy has agreed with anti-hunt organisations and Police Scotland that the current law offers too many loop holes, and is unworkable, in his review of the Protection of wild Mammals (Scotland) Act.  He goes as far as to say “there is a basis for suspecting that there may be occasions when hunting, which does not fall within one of the exceptions, does take place and that the grounds for that suspicion should be addressed” 

Sadly the review does not focus on the welfare of the fox or how much suffering the fox may endure before death. Scottish Hunt Saboteurs who have experience of the current situation at Scottish Hunts have studied the review and have the following observations:-

The proposed changes would only strengthen the outcome of an illegal kill and does nothing to address the illegal hunting that still takes place, or does anything to protect the fox on the day of a hunt.

The idea of part-time monitors would only work if those involved are impartial from both sides of the hunting argument and have enough knowledge to be able to correctly convey what is happening in front of them. We feel it is not a role that just anyone can take without substantial knowledge of how hunting actually works and then this leaves the role open to people who could also be biased. If the role is voluntary then again the wrong type of person without the correct knowledge could be in place and in a situation they simply would not understand.

We welcome the concept of tighter rules and a recklessness clause being applied to the Hunts who pretend to accidentally kill outwit the current law. But again the recent story regarding the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire hunt shooting and not killing a fox and causing it to suffer before being killed by hounds needs to be addressed. We also welcome the idea of all participants of the hunts being registered to the police making it easier to identify those breaking hunting laws, which would include landowners who allow hunting to take place on their land.

We call on the Scottish Parliament to take Lord Bonomy’s words into account when drafting new legislation to remove loop holes but to take it further and finally ban hunting from Scotland once and for all.

Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “Only weeks ago Scottish sabs retrieved the body of a fox [above right] that had been shot by the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Hunt. This poor creature took 5 minutes to die and was savaged by the hounds after being shot. Whilst we welcome Lord Bonomy's review, hunters have shown consistently over the past decade that they aren't willing to abide by any laws and regulations relating to their barbaric pastime. The only remaining course of action is to disband all the Hunts.”

Sab car rammed by Oakley FH hunt supporter, sabs punched

Hunt warned by police for illegal hunting

5-11-16   Twitter N.Cambs Sabs   This is our vehicle today after being deliberately rammed by hunt support from the Oakley hunt. Nobody injured but other sabs were punched...

6-11-16  Twitter - N.Cambs Sabs   … Not enough for conviction - police with us all day - one Hunt member arrested for assault and hunt warned for illegal hunting.

10-11-16   Facebook – N.Cambs Sabs   This is a 6 second video clip taken from the front-facing dash-cam when we were deliberately rammed by hunt support on Saturday. You need to watch with sound. We're already halfway to our total which is amazing but please keep sharing and help us get to our total so we can be back out on the road doing our job.

Gogetfunding.com     Due to being deliberately rammed into by hunt supporters we need a new vehicle ASAP We now need a new and larger vehicle for this season to make sure our growing group stays on the road and keeps fighting the animal abusers in our communities.

7-11-16     morethanjustbadgers.net    ... The day itself was fairly tough. We had a vehicle rammed which sustained serious damage, we were blocked in by 4 Landrovers filled with thugs all offering to rearrange our features and I was assaulted by one of the thugs, Luckily I was wearing an armoured hat so the punch to the back of my head as I was walking away (cheap shot) didn’t knock me out. Had I not been wearing it I have no doubt my bell would have been well and truly rung!  He was subsequently arrested and is now on bail pending further inquiries. I was wearing a head cam which was running at the time and the footage has been sent to the police as evidence. Another interesting incident was the police actually witnessing a fox being chased. Sabs were on hand to cover it’s scent but this clear violation of the Hunting act gave the police no option but to warn the hunt for hunting illegally. Long may it continue.

Sab ridden down by frustrated Ross Harriers rider [he's O.K.]

5-11-16   Facebook - Bristol Sabs   Ross Harriers stopped from killing so turn to using violence against sabs   We met up with sabs from Bath, South Wales & 3C today and headed over the bridge to Garway where the Ross Harriers were just finishing their breakfast before a days hunting. Perfect timing!

We were in good numbers which meant the hunt were always in our sight. A few early attempts at hunting were called off by Huntsman, Owain, when he realised a large number of cameras were pointing in his direction (one of which from a member of the press we had out with us).

Soon enough the Hunt were back to their usual business of hunting illegally but we were quickly on the scene to stamp it out. We watched hare after hare flee to safety and the frustrated hunt decided to turn on us by punching sabs and even riding one down (thankfully the sab is OK). Our colleague from the press has everything on film.

More confrontations occurred with another Ross Harriers supporter breaking the press camera (again, footage has all been documented). As the Hunt started to wind down, we came across another hunt: The Leadon Vale Bassets who were also in the area chasing hares. We split into two groups and monitored them until they finally called it a day as darkness fell. We're exhausted but happy to see so many hares get away today. If the Ross Harriers think violence will deter us, they can think again.

Police stand and watch Atherstone FH hunting fox

Didn't intervene even when pack ran into road

5-11-16   Facebook – W.Mids Sabs   VIDEO   Fox hunted in front of police, who do nothing   Atherstone Hunt 5th November - tte Hollybush, Ashby Parva. Jon Hadfield was not present at the hunt on Saturday [see two stories down]. We hope the Masters have told him he is not welcome. To do otherwise would be to endorse the carrying of knives and slashing of tyres. If the Masters do allow him to attend again they will be sending a clear signal that this type of activity is supported by the Hunt.

The Atherstone met at the Hollybush in Ashby Parva on Saturday with a small turnout of about 12 riders. Despite Leicestershire police making a rare appearance huntsman Stuart Barton carried on blatantly hunting with clear intent right in front of them. At one point a fox was even chased across a field in front of them and out onto the adjacent road. Luckily, sabs were on the road to slow the traffic and prevent any accidents. The two officers did nothing to stop this. They didn't even speak with the Hunt about this incident and let them carry on hunting for the rest of the day.

When questioned about this later, the police said that they “thought a fox was being chased but weren't sure”. If they thought a fox was being chased why then did they allow the Atherstone to carry on hunting for the rest of the day? If they think other crimes are being committed but “aren't sure” do they let these crimes continue to be committed? We stayed with Barton all day and on a number of occasions out of frustration he could be heard losing his temper and shouting.

Pics below -  First, fox fleeing from hounds along hedge line. Second, hounds, in cry, not far behind fox. Third, self-explanatory. Fourth, the two boys in blue watching the Atherstone hunting fox. 

Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire FH kill fox in front of sabs

6-11-16   Facebook – Grampian Sabs  VIDEO  PLEASE SHARE    Yesterday the Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire Hunt made a kill in front of us. Hunting still very much goes on in the UK. The laws have not changed this. Foxes are still dying in agony every week. Please share this far and wide, write to your MPs and support your local hunt sabs. Here is footage taken by Grampian and Fife & Central Scotland Hunt Sabs yesterday. The fox's body is currently under examination.

While we sadly can't save them all we do save many foxes and will continue to document the illegal kills. Full report of the day will come soon.

POWAperson adds -  Pics above - First shows the hounds hurtling on to the fox just after they put it up. Second shows a sab grabbing the fox from hounds. It is mortally injured. Third shows the riders and pack shortly afterwards. Fourth, the dead fox laid out.

Note the severe wounds to the abdomen and chest. No 'quick nip to the neck' here. There wouldn't be. That's a myth. Dogs nearly always attack the abdomen. Death usually occurs as a result of shock and blood loss and it is usually not quick. The sabs could find no gun wounds, but an autopsy found one, non-fatal. The Scottish 'ban' allows any number of dogs to be used to 'flush out' quarry, so long as the fox is shot dead as soon as practicable. No guns, no legal hunting.

In fox hunting, the quarry may be chased for anything up to an hour and a half, using hounds bred for stamina rather then speed. Long chases are preferred as they give better 'sport'. Uninterrupted chases are known as 'points'. These used to be celebrated in hunting reports that used to be published, sometimes in local newspapers. They sometimes exceed ten miles in length. In this case, however, the fox was put up and killed very soon after. In hunting parlance it was 'chopped', something hunters would rather avoid as it gives little fun. 

The story was also reported in the Scottish Sun. 

Ross-on-Wye hotel cancels S.Herefordshire FH Hunt Ball booking

3-11-16   Facebook – Hunt Investigation Team    We heard last week that the Chase Hotel in Ross on Wye had cancelled the South Herefordshire hunt ball. We have been working hard to verify this and as far as we can tell, it appears to be the case. So it seems that polite phone calls and emails won the day. We will of course keep across this and post in due course if any other venues decide to host the cub killers of the infamous South Herefordshire Hunt.                                    

Atherstone FH Hounds riot on high speed A44

Sab tyre allegedly stabbed by ex-cop supporter

1-11-16   Facebook – W.Mids Sabs  VIDEO   Atherstone hunt supporter and ex-policeman Jon Hadfield caught slashing lone female hunt sabs tyres Atherstone Hunt Opening Meet 1/11/16   During the Atherstone Hunt's opening meet of the main fox hunting season a lone female hunt sab came across the huntsman and hounds hunting very close to the A444 in Leicestershire. It was clear a fox had just run across the busy road and down into a badger sett on the other side as the hounds were about to run across the road and into on coming traffic. Whilst trying to prevent the hounds running onto the busy road the dash-cam inside the females sab's vehicle recorded regular Atherstone Hunt supporter and ex-Policeman Jon Hadfield walking across the road straight over to the vehicle and taking a penknife out of his pocket. The footage on the sab's handheld camera then shows him to be the only person anywhere near the vehicle. When the sab gets nearer to the vehicle a loud hissing sound can be heard. The front passenger tyre quickly deflated after being stabbed multiple times all around the perimeter. Hadfield had a clear motive after his son was recently in court for assaulting another female sab . The incident has been reported to Leicestershire Police. If any members of the general public were on the A444 at this time and witnessed anything please pm us. Thanks. Please help towards our costs of buying a new tyre.

Pics below -   1/  1st hound runs on to A444   2/  Pack hurtling across the road   3/  Ex-cop John Hadfield opens knife   4/   Sab tyre after being stabbed