The Hunting Bill gained Royal Assent on 18-11-2004 The Hunting Act 2004 came into effect on 18-2-2005 Full text of the Hunting Act 2004 is HERE POWA's main role is to campaign for a complete, effective and enforceable ban on the hunting of wild animals with dogs in England and Wales. After ten overwhelming Commons' votes, over seven years, in favour of a complete ban on hunting, the will of the people and their sovereign Parliament finally overcame decades of resistance and mendacious propaganda from the rich and powerful bloodsports lobby and a largely compliant media - democracy indeed! Regrettably, POWA believes that the Hunting Act 2004 has manifest deficiencies which, in practice, make it of very limited utility in preventing organised Hunts carrying on chasing and killing wild mammals for 'sport'. Hunts are able to do this by exploiting the numerous loopholes and/or by pretending to be ‘trail hunting’ and ascribing any incident involving wild mammals as 'accidents'. Monitoring reports countrywide appear to confirm that many, perhaps most hunts, engage in such behaviour. Nevertheless, the Act, so long and hard fought for, is a lot better than nothing - and of huge symbolic importance. POWA therefore also campaigns against any attempt to further weaken or repeal the Act and to ensure, as far as possible, that it is complied with in the hunting field and upheld through the courts. But - like its long-illegal fellow bloodsports, cock and dog fighting, bull and badger baiting - the hunting of foxes, deer, hares and mink with packs of dogs must be consigned to the history books in practice, not just in theory. The is how the hunters like to change the beautiful, sensitive, living creatures portrayed above - for 'sport' The Hunting Act has slowed but not stopped them. Join POWA's campaign to have the Act strengthened "WHEN CRIMINALS CIRCUMVENT THE LAW IT SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED TO STOP THEM  NOT REPEALED TO REWARD THEM" Read the POWA Pack *Click HERE to read POWA's case to strengthen the Hunting Act,  including our proposed changes * Click HERE to read more on EDM116 - Hunting Act 2004 * Click HERE to see  EDM 122 and MP's signatures of support POWA ♥ A Minority Pastime Wales Against Animal Cruelty Animal Cruelty Investigation Group Conservatives Against Foxhunting Irish Council Against Bloodsports Read POWA's statement on the High Court Ruling  This confirmed that  'intent' to hunt a wild mammal must be proved and that 'searching' is not 'hunting'. Following the ruling, the CPS dropped nearly all their pending cases because the evidential burden was now too great. These cases included four charges against the huntsman of the Heythrop FH. The Heythrop is the home hunt of David Cameron and he has ridden with them in the past. It is widely supported by the famed 'Chipping Norton set', including Rebekah Brooks and husband Charlie, who are reported to be friends of the P.M. Press Release

LATEST POWA PRESS LETTER 27th December 2011 POWA responds to the Boxing Day meets coverage and Farming Minister Jim Paice's call to repeal the Hunting Act by urging the PM to refuse this - and to crack down on Hunt's cynical subterfuge' in flouting the spirit and letter of the law. It also requested media to show the brutal realities behind the 'chocolate box' image of Hunt meets they nearly always portray.   See POWA press letters LATEST POWA PRESS RELEASE 23rd December 2011  POWA Press Released to all national, regional and local dailies in England and Wales in much the same terms as its post-Boxing Day round robin letter above, which was aimed primarily at local weekly papers. See POWA Press Releases REQUIRED READING 'Bad Hare Days" by John Fitzgerald, veteran anti-courser and founder of the Campaign to Abolish Cruel Sports, in Ireland. The book details the long struggle to try to get hare coursing banned in the Republic - and its effect on the campaigners. Available free to read/download here       The campaign eventually managed to get coursing greyhounds muzzled, but this is far from complete protection for the hares against serious trauma and injury. The photo below shows a hare [top left] that has been batted up into the air by one of the chasing dogs.     Hare sent flying high into air by pursuing muzzled greyhounds  POWA ♥ Hounds Off Despite the Hunting Act, hunters and their dogs are still running amok and intimidating law-abiding folk, trespassing on private property. New site Hounds Off is encouraging a countrywide network of hunt-free zones, creating an ever-growing land area where wildlife has sanctuary. Use Hounds Off to help you ban your homestead to hunters, wherever it is. Support Hounds Off on Facebook Stag in Devon desperately fleeing from the hunt Deer hunting continues using the 'Research' exemption in the Act Beagler cuts off hare's tail to reward his hounds Hare hunting continues in the guise of rat or rabbit hunting OVER 200 MPs SIGN!!! The Early Day Motion - EDM116 - reaffirming support for the Hunting Act - has been signed by 209 MPs to date - 6/7/11 - a very large number for an EDM.  POWA thanks all those MPs for their support. * Click here for info on EDM 116  - Hunting Act 2004 Fox hounds are rewarded - by a public road Fox hunting is disguised as 'trail' hunting - chases & kills are always claimed to be 'accidents' Download a copy of the publication The Myth of 'Accidental' Foxhunting Hare being coursed at the notorious Waterloo Cup The Hunting Act has succeeded in stopping organised coursing events