WIDDECOMBE'S BID TO TIGHTEN HUNTING BAN

Daily Telegraph

Attempts are being made to tighten up the ban on hunting with hounds this week, as the season gets under way.

Police and politicians are to meet at Westminster amid claims that hunts are routinely breaking the law and killing foxes illegally.

The meeting has been called by Ann Widdecombe, the Conservative MP for Maidstone and the Weald, who is a prominent opponent of the sport.

She is calling for police to enforce the legislation more powerfully and is to show video footage that she claims includes "dozens" of instances of "blatant" flouting of the Act, as well as an alleged assault on a hunt monitor.

The Hunting Act, one of the most bitterly contested pieces of legislation in history, was passed in 2004, banning hunting with dogs. But the sport has remained popular with followers using various exemptions to carry on.

As the season starts officially this week, there are still more than 313 registered hunts in the country, with 68,000 followers. They now take part in drag hunts, where riders and hounds pursue a scented rag, and trail hunts, which involves following a scent trail.

If the dogs stumble upon a fox and kill it, that is permissible under law, while foxes can still be driven out of hiding by dogs and shot as long as no more than two hounds are involved. Dogs can also be used to flush out a fox so it can be hunted by a bird of prey.

Hunts are closely monitored by opponents and 20 people have so far been convicted under the Act. A further 17 are being prosecuted, including the television cook Clarissa Dickson-Wright, who is facing hare-coursing charges.

However, many investigations have failed. Opponents claim this is because the Act has not been properly enforced by police and prosecutors.

Miss Widdecombe said: "The Act is not being enforced. I want to talk to the police and explore possibilities about how this can happen."

She is calling from the introduction of licenses for hunt monitors and for it to be a criminal offence to obstruct them.

The meeting will be attended by representatives from 13 police forces.

Barry Hugill, a spokesman for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "We think there has been some uncertainty from police about how to enforce the legislation."

But Tim Bonner, from the Countryside Alliance, said: "The police and hunts have dealt extremely well with the Hunting Act since it came into force given the confusing and unworkable nature of the law. Only someone completely out of touch with public opinion could suggest that the police should be spending more time pursuing hunts and less chasing muggers or burglars."

The organisation is still awaiting the results of a challenge to the Act in the House of Lords, claiming it violates the human rights legislation.

Read More Here