HUNTERS' ANGER OVER HUGE POLICE PRESENCE

Chester Chronicle

FOLLOWERS of the Cheshire hunt are furious after a police helicopter was sent to observe their activities even though they were acting within the law.

Police dispatched a squad car and diverted a chopper to the scene after a member of the public reported fox hunting with hounds taking place at Aldford in contravention of the Hunting Act.
But the Cheshire Hunt said it was merely exercising its pack, which is allowed within the law, and police agreed that not only was nothing illegal taking place, they couldn't actually find any dogs at all.

Cllr Noel Dutton, chairman of Kelsall Parish Council, was following the hunt on Tuesday and was incensed at the level of police resources on display given his village is about to lose its dedicated bobby.
He said: 'We were subjected to a police car with two officers in it, cruising up and down, writing down numbers of cars in the vicinity. A helicopter was scrambled with a camera below it taking photos of riders and dogs.
'I thought the police were struggling for resources. Kelsall, for instance, is losing its policeman, yet they can scramble a helicopter!'

Cllr Dutton said no-one was doing 'anything illegal' and added: 'There was a lot of muttering among the people about the relationship with the police. It did the police no good at all.'
Richard Thomas, joint master of the hunt, who was out on Tuesday, agreed the police reaction was 'probably' overkill.

He said: 'It's very difficult for the police. They are being called by somebody saying something is going on and they have a duty to investigate it.
'I need to sit down with the police and explain exactly what is going on so they are more comfortable. I'm sure it is very expensive to have a helicopter hovering above 20 people out for a ride across country. But they deemed it necessary on the day.'

A Cheshire police spokesman said officers responded after a report of people hunting with dogs.
He said: 'When we arrived there was no evidence of any dogs being present.'
The spokesman said the helicopter happened to be in the air already and was diverted to the scene.

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