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LATEST NEWS on hunting in the UK
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Following stories are covered in detail and commented upon below :-
..... 7th February - Hapless Blackmore FH threatened with court action over yet another
trespass
..... 7th February - Hare hunting and hound death on road reported in South Midlands
.....
6th February - South Devon FH terrierman cautioned for attacking sabs
..... 4th February - North
Down FH hounds invade garden and kill pet cat. Owner calls for hunt ban in Ulster
..... 1st
February - Portman FH hounds reportedly invade same gardens as Blackmore 5 days earlier
..... 28th January
- South Wold FH endanger pets as they chase fox through gardens in Lincolnshire village
......26th January - Residents fury as Blackmore & Sparkmore Vale hounds riot through village &
gardens
..... 25th January - Trespassing N.Shrops FH chased and killed fox in full view, say residents
of Marchamley
..... 21st January - Monitor thinks Cattistock were
hunting fox that tumbled down bank at her feet
..... 19th January - Seavington
FH Joint Master seriously injured in freak farm accident
..... 19th January - 'Have
a go hero' who protected fox from Axe Vale hounds savaging it comes forward
..... 17th January - Blackmore
& Sparkford Vale hounds invade banned land, disturb pregnant ewes
..... 16th January - Staintondale
FH hounds again invade land of couple whose cat they killed
..... 14th January - Dorset
farmer 'arrests' sett-stopper who at first claims to be with local Hunt
..... 13th January - PM says law should never have been used against hunting with dogs and will seek repeal
.....
11th January - Otis Ferry's S.Shrops FH hounds cause traffic chaos in village, spook valuable
horses
..... 10th January - At least one Cottesmore
FH hound killed on railway during 'trail hunt'
..... 9th January - Cumbria
antis claim internet post backs their claims of illegal fox hunting on fells
..... 7th January -
Sabs claim fox chased and killed at Kent Hunts joint meet
..... 7th January -
Another Huntsman [Ross Harriers] is arrested for racially abusing a sab
.....
4th January - Female sab violently assaulted by Cottesmore FH supporter, says HSA
..... 31st December
- Pentrych FH hounds riot after fox in gardens near busy shopping centre
..... 31st December
- Blackmore & Sparkford Vale FH cause 'mayhem' as hounds riot through village
..... 29th December - Fox disembowelled by Devon hounds. Landowner
& mystery man fight in vain to protect it
..... 28th December - Surrey
Union FH thugs lose it again as sabs say they filmed assaults by terriermen
..... 27th December - Cottesmore terrierman to face prosecution for hunting fox, failing to ensure cubs' welfare
..... 26th December - BBC News features POWA Associate anti-hunt film-maker and veteran sab, trouncing CA rep
.....
26th December - Surrey Union FH supporter arrested after sab car rammed and missile fired at
it
..... 22nd December - Cumbria sabs save pussy cat from Blencathra
hounds:- YouTube
..... 21st December - N.Shropshire FH hounds chase
fox through Newport housing estate, run on to main road
..... 20th December - Motorist
couple find themselves suddenly in midst of'illegal' fox hunt in Leicestershire
..... 18th December
- Cotswold Vale Farmers Huntsman is fined for racially abusing a sab
.....
16th December - Moppet's massacre by hunt hounds creates small media storm
.....
14th December = Cattistock FH chased fox across A30, then blocked road causing tail-backs,
say monitors
..... 13th December - N.Yorks Hunts savage pet cat to
death and take body away Owners devastated
..... 12th December - Family
watch in horror as Essex & Suffolk FH whip beats fox to death on their patio
..... 11th December - Redcoat whips sab on film amid reports of more supporter violence at Sussex hunt
.....
8th December - Hunt thug violence video released after charges against Sheffield
sabs dropped
..... 4th December - Scots hunt ban architect calls
for police probe as apparent abuses revealed
..... 1st December - Clip
seems to show Cheshire Forest FH redcoat's horse being abused with whip
..... 28th November - Sheffield sabs claim they stopped York & S.Ainsty FH dig-out three times
.....
27th November - 'We don't want repeal' blunder by hunting's
biggest Tory MP fan
..... 26th November - Crawley
& Horsham hunters 'lose it' with police over sab presence
..... 25th November - Leading
S.W. Joint Master admits hunters would lose Commons vote on repeal
..... 24th November - 'Minority Pastime' revised version to preview in Stroud
..... 22nd November
- Surrey Union FH accused of assaults on sabs, one injured
..... 18th November - Cattistock deny
use of artificial earth after LACS 'criminal conspiracy' claim
..... 17th November - Alice doesn't
live here any more. Shock departure of C.Alliance CEO
..... 17th November - League sacks press officer
over 'financial irregularities'
..... 13th November - Southdown & Eridge FH supporter injures
sab with catapulted wheel-nut
..... 7th November - Cotswold
Vale FH in prolonged havoc incident on busy road
..... 7th November - Local
witnesses say clearly saw hare being illegally hunted in Pendle, Lancs
..... 5th November - Head
wound to female sab after pulled over by hunt supporter, claims HSA
..... 1st November - Cotswold Vale FH reported to police for apparent illegal hunting
For
earlier stories see UK Hunting News Archive
Hapless Blackmore FH face legal action
if yet another trespass is repeated
10-2-12 Blackmore Vale
Magazine Court threat after hunt strays A HUNT has been threatened
with court action after horses and hounds strayed on to private land in Hazelbury Bryan. The incident happened at High House
Farm on West Lane during the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt's meet last Tuesday. Magistrates instructed
the hunt to keep off the farm after organic dairy farmer Leslie Head and his father Robert took court action for trespass
20 years ago. Robert Head said he saw around 15  riders on the lawn between his home and farm buildings at midday last Tuesday. "My son has farmed here for 40 years and
it has been made clear from the outset that we didn't want the hunt on our land. The hunt has been sent detailed maps
and Dorchester magistrates have told them to keep off our land," he said. "If they trespass again I will not hesitate
to take them to court once more. If they want to ride their horses they must do so where they have permission."
Michael Felton, joint master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, said last week's incident was the result of a misunderstanding
over a right of way between fields and the road. Although he was not riding on the day, Mr Felton said he was aware that Mr
Head had sent a letter threatening court action and fellow joint master Lady Arabella Moger [left] had visited
the farm to apologise for the incident. "The hunt was in the wrong. We have apologised and won't let it happen again,"
Mr Felton said.
Report of hare hunting and hound killed
on road in south Midlands
7-2-12
POWA has today received a report from an eye-witness who claims to have seen a Hunt, believed to be the Old Berkeley Beagles,
chasing three hares and that a hound was subsequently killed on the Wantage-Hungerford Road. Police and local paper have both
been informed.
South Devon FH terrierman
is cautioned by police for attacks on sabs
6-2-12
POWA has today been informed that Simon Williams, a terrierman [or 'countryman', a rather more cuddly title such thugs now prefer] with the S.Devon FH has received a formal caution. Further details are awaited,
but we understand that at a meet last month, Williams allegedly drove his quadbike at a group of sabs, but also grabbed one
sab by the throat, causing his victim's face to turn blue as he wouldn't let go. Apparently this isn't
sufficient violence to merit a court appearance. This is not Mr.Williams' first such
offence. In the '98/99 season he was cautionerd for threatening a sab with a metal pole. A fellow South Devon FH
terrierman, Andrew Bellamy [right], was convicted last year for digging into a badger sett and fined £500.
North Down FH hounds invade garden and kill pet cat
in front of distressed owner
BBC News website 6-2-12 North Down
hunt dogs kill cat in Kircubbin Lisa Smith's cat Sophie [below, right] was
killed by foxhounds on Saturday afternoon. The Kircubbin woman has called for the hunting laws in
Northern Ireland to be changed after her cat was killed by dogs from the North Down hunt [below, left].
The dogs had been hunting a fox when they left the field and entered Ms Smith's garden. The Countryside Alliance
has apologised to her for the loss of control of the dogs. Fox hunting is banned in the rest of the
UK but is still legal in Northern Ireland. Ms Smith owns seven cats and the others, apart from
Sophie, escaped the foxhounds. "There was about 10 dogs in my garden with more dogs really, really, struggling to break their way through the fence," she told Talkback. "I was shouting and screaming and clapping
my hands trying to get them to go away. "Poor little Sophie was in her cat house and she popped her head out the cat
flap. One of the foxhounds dragged her out of her house. I am not going to go into any graphic detail but I am quite sure
everybody can imagine what happened next when a pack of 10 to 15 dogs, that have been trained to kill, got a hold of her.
I wasn't physically hurt but the fact is these dogs killed a cat on my private property and that poor animal must have
suffered horribly." For that reason Ms Smith wants to see a change t o the hunting law in Northern Ireland. "I do feel that the animal welfare laws in Northern Ireland are flimsy and weak,"
she said. "I know they have recently been revised but I still feel there is a way to go. I have never been a supporter
of any sport or activity where people or animals get hurt. Why they have to breed and hunt innocent animals - whether they
be foxes, a cat or whatever - it's barbaric." Lyall Plant, the chief executive
of the Countryside Alliance, said: "We would like to pass our condolences on to Ms Smith about this incident and the
hunt in question is extremely sad this situation occurred.The hunt tried in vain to call the hounds off and it took them a
few minutes to get them back under control. It's a very, very sad incident and I know the hunt are just as much choked
about this as anybody else. They have never had any incident like this in the history of the North Down hunt."
Portman FH reportedly invade same banned land as did the
Blackmore five days before
1-2-12
POWA has been told that monitors observed the Portman FH trespassing in the same set of gardens as their neighbouring
hunt had only a few days earlier. The incident has been reported to police and the local press. The village of Wonston
is apparently at the confluence of the Portman, the Blackmore and the South Dorset FHs and there is at least one hunt near
it almost every week.
South Wold FH endanger
pets as hounds chase fox in village gardens
1-2-12 Horncastle
News Complaints after hounds catch the scent of live fox during routine hunt
A VILLAGER has complained after a stampede of hounds trampled through their garden during the South  Wold Hunt on Saturday. Alastair Grant, who lives near Edlington, said around 15 hounds raced through his garden
in pursuit of a fox. He said: "It’s unacceptable. My cats were in the garden and also my dog. Both were very shocked
and traumatised by the amount of hounds crashing though the garden. "I could have had my friends’ toddlers here
and they would have been seriously injured by the stampede at full speed. They were chasing a fox and proceeded to hunt it
down in the field behind my house. They were also in neighbouring gardens. When a huntsman finally appeared I told him how
upset we and our animals were by it and not even an apology was offered." However Nick Ashcroft,
Master of the South Wold Hunt [left], said this sort of thing can sometimes happen and that they did not break the
law by deliberately setting the hounds after a fox. He said: "There was an artificial scent and a fox must have jumped
up in front of them. As soon as it happened we worked to get them under control and we apologized and moved on. We always
do our best to hunt within the law."
POWAPerson says:- Yet another'accident'. POWA received a report
of this Hunt rampaging in another village a few weeks ago, but the resident was too nervous of possible repurcussions to allow
us to publicise any details.
Residents fury as Blackmore &
Sparkford Vale hounds riot through village and gardens
Third rampage by this Hunt's hounds in four weeks
Western Gazette 2-2-12 Anger as hunt's hounds run
riot in woman's garden A furious Leigh resident has called on her neighbours to complain to
police after hunting hounds ran riot in the village. Julie Hounsell [left]
of Leigh wants her neighbours to act after hunting hounds ventured off the trail and  ran riot in her garden, as captured on CCTV. She has now called on her neighbours to make public their discontent as she feels
it is the only way to ensure the dogs are kept under control in future. She said: "Surely it must be possible
if enough people complain to keep the hounds out of our village. People need to stand up against this issue and be counted.
I don't understand why people put up with this nonsense." Miss Hounsell discovered
the runaway hounds after checking her CCTV footage [right] set up in the garden. She installed the cameras after
one of her cats was mauled to death on her lawn by a neighbour's dog in May last year. She said: "I looked at the
footage and saw that two dogs had been in here. I rang the police and told them, and they said that they had received several calls from other residents. The police have said very little. The hunt
master has since visited people in the village and apologised, but I'm not prepared to listen to that rubbish. Do we have
to wait for the dogs to kill other animals before something is done? It seems that the answer to that is yes. Surely if the
hunters are taking out that many dogs they must take have control and take responsibility."
Anthony Mayo, joint hunt master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, confirmed he had visited those affected, and believed
his apology had been accepted. He said: "I went around the next day and saw the people who it involved and apologised
for the situation. The hounds ventured off the trail and got into the back of the village. I saw those involved and my apology
was accepted." Retired priest Tony Durkin, who lives on Chetnole Road also witnessed
the incident. He joined Miss Hounsell in calling for the hunt to be more strictly controlled. He said: "The hunters have
no business down this particular part of the village. The hounds were out of control and were running loose all over the village.
It was chaos. The hounds were running through the churchyard. What we want is the thing properly controlled, so the hunters
have a grip on where they can go and where they are not welcome. I am concerned not only for people's properties in the
area, but mostly for their pets and animals." A spokesperson from Dorset Police said: "Dorset
Police received three complaints from the public in Leigh about the Blackmore Vale hunt on Thursday, January 26. A police
officer from Sherborne Police attended and spoke to members of the hunt in Chetnole. The hunt master has been contacted, and
is assisting police with their inquiries." Earlier in the month, Michael Felton,
joint master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, issued an apology after complaints that hounds ran through gardens
and private fields in Wonston near Hazelbury Bryan. At the time he said: "We would not deliberately go on to ground where
people don't want us - we endeavour to make every effort to stop this from happening. Unfortunately, there are times when
the hounds deviate on to live quarry or when wind shifts the trail. The hunt is making an extra effort to ensure this doesn't
happen again."
POWA understands that monitors claim to have obtained footage of this Hunt in full pursuit of
a fox the same day and have passed their film on to the police.
N.Shropshire FH rampaged over private land and killed fox,
say shocked villagers
26-1-12 LACS website N.Shropshire
FH have anothrer 'accident' A fox was killed yesterday by a pack of out of control
hounds who had already spent several hours rampaging through private properties in a village in Shropshire. Shocked residents
near the village of Marchamley, in North Shropshire, witnessed the fox being ripped apart by the hounds following a pursuit in which hounds were seen chasing the fox across private property
with the huntsmen in pursuit. One local resident said "this isn't the first time the hunt have trespassed onto my
land. It's absolutely galling that once again they have shown absolutely no consideration for the local landowners".
The League Against Cruel Sports, which runs a dedicated phone line for people to report wildlife crime, received several calls
about this incident yesterday and has stated that this is not an isolated case. The League's Chief Executive Joe Duckworth
said: "Unfortunately this is just the latest in what can only be described as a clear pattern of law breaking. We are
absolutely appalled by the behaviour of this hunt. We received several reports from distressed residents who are at a loss
to understand how this kind of blatant illegality can be tolerated. Last month after hounds from the
North Shropshire Hunt strayed onto a major road [see below] they said that it was a ‘freak accident and wouldn't
happen again'. Clearly this is not the case as yet again they claim to have lost control of their hounds. We would like
to see the Masters of Fox Hounds Association take action against this hunt who obviously are either wilfully breaking the
law or who cannot control their dogs" The incident has been reported to West Mercia Police.
Were the Cattistock hunting terrified fox
that tumbled on to road in front of monitor?
24-1-12 Western Daily Press
Letter from monitor Helen Weeks [also a POWA Associate];- Last Saturday (21st January), the Cattistock Foxhounds,
were hunting in a wood just outside Halstock in Dorset. Hunt followers lined the road half a field away with binoculars trained
on the wood. A huntsman was shouting encouragement to the hounds in the trees. After a while, I saw part of the pack at the
edge of the wood with their noses to the ground searching for a scent. When suddenly the hounds ran back  into the wood and all hell broke loose. The air was full of the unearthly sound that hounds make when on the scent of a fox.
This terrible din went on for what seemed minutes - if they had not caught their quarry, they were very close to it. Then
there was silence. I started to walk back up the road to where the followers were and where my monitoring
partner was standing, when a fox, dark with mud burst through the hedge from the direction of the wood and toppled down the
bank and onto the road in front of me. While monitoring I have seen many foxes running for their lives, but
never one in such a blind state of panic so near to the start of the hunt. It recovered itself and bolted to the other side
of the road. As I had seen quad bikes complete with terrier boxes at the edge of the wood, and given
the state the fox was in, I wondered if this poor little fox had sought refuge underground and been dug out for the hounds
to chase. I accused the hunt followers of hunting foxes and they did not deny it. Instead, they said, "Foxes are vermin". Stop all the talk of "to repeal" or not "to repeal".
The only conversation we should be having; is how to strengthen the Hunting Act in order to stop the barbaric practises of
hunters flouting the law.
Blackmore & Sparkford Vale hounds invade banned land again,
disturb pregnant ewes
Second incursion by this Hunt in less than three weeks
21-1-12
Blackmore Vale Magazine Another apology after Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt strays off trail
A HUNT master has made another apology after hounds ran out of control for the second time in recent weeks. Complaints have
been made to the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt [left]  after hounds ran through gardens and private fields in Wonston near Hazelbury Bryan last Tuesday. As previously reported,
the hunt received complaints after hounds ran through residential roads in Marnhull on New Year's Eve.
Rupert Emerson, who runs Orchard Farmhouse organic B&B [right]in Wonston with his partner Sarah Cousins, explained
that he had notified the hunt that he didn't want hounds in his paddocks, which are managed for wildlife and as a community
garden. In spite of reassurances from the hunt, hounds have strayed onto Mr Emerson's land on several occasions, including
last week. Mr Emerson said he was particularly concerned as he had recently put a ram to his Portland ewes and it is likely
that the animals were pregnant. "I was in my office when I saw hounds in our garden. Sarah ran out and saw a lot more
going across the paddocks - there appeared to be no attempt to control them," he said. "The sheep were visibly distressed and were
still nervous when we went to feed them the next day." Mr Emerson said he was particularly disappointed as he asked the
hunt to stay off his land when he first moved to the area. He contacted hunt officials again and received an apology and compensation
after his hedges were damaged by the hunt last year. "They knew very well that we didn't want them on our land yet
they have disrupted our business, disrupted the community garden and caused distress to us and our sheep. We are not trying
to stop the hunt, we are just asking that they keep off our land," Mr Emerson added.
Michael Felton, joint master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, apologised for last week's disruption. He said
he wasn't riding with the hunt, which was out with around 34 hounds, last Tuesday but was aware of the incident.
"We would not deliberately go onto ground where people don't want us - we endeavour
to make every effort to stop this from happening. Unfortunately, there are times when the hounds deviate onto live quarry
or when wind shifts the trail," Mr Felton said. "The hunt is making an extra effort to ensure this doesn't happen
again. Our trail layers have been told in words of one syllable."
Seavington FH JM critically injured in freak
accident as cow kicks out
UPDATE
22-1-12 Mr. Darke's condition has improved significantly.
19-1-12 Western Morning
News Vet fights for life after farm accident A
leading vet was in a critical condition in hospital yesterday after he suffered a brain haemorrhage when a cow kicked a metal
gate into his face. Experienced Jereme Darke [right], 45, fell backwards and cracked his head on the concrete floor after
the heifer bucked the swinging cattle gate straight into him. He was airlifted to hospital following the freak accident, suffering from a fractured skull, bleeding at the rear of the brain and other severe facial injuries.
Colleagues said Mr Darke, a director of Dorset-based Synergy Farm Health Veterinary Services, which operates across Dorset,
Somerset and Devon, was critical but stable yesterday following surgery. Andrew Davies, managing director of the practice,
said: "We appreciate how devastating this news is to take and the emotions associated with it and
we all know how popular and active a character Jereme is in the local and agriculture community. Our thoughts are very much
with him and his family at this very difficult time for us all. There have been signs of optimism in the past 48
hours.... Mr Darke was caught by the cow while blood testing beef cattle at a farm in Donyatt, near Taunton in Somerset,
at 3.10pm on January 9. He was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol - which has a specialist head trauma facility - to
undergo surgery. Following a procedure to remove the blood clot, reduce brain pressure and assess damage, doctors said he
was responding well to treatment. ..... Mr Darke, who lives in Devon, is joint Master of the Seavington Hunt and secretary
of the Crewkerne Farmers' Skittle League.
POWAPerson says; - Much as we despise Mr. Darke's bloodsports
activities, we trust he will recover from his trauma. Perhaps his experience will give him some insight into how fragile and
precious every life is to its possessor. It seems particularly odious that a veterinary surgeon, trained to heal and
care for animals, should devote his spare time to tormenting and killing them for fun.
Mystery man who shielded wounded fox from Axe Vale
hounds savagery identified
19-1-12 Exeter Express & Echo Fox's
protector comes forward THE "mystery" man who helped protect a fox from hounds in East
Devon has come forward. Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the incident which happened on Boxing Day afternoon near Shute. Sidmouth resident Prescilla Lynch, 52, claims to have found herself
in the middle of the pack of hunting hounds in her field when Alun Metcalf [right] stopped to help. The psychology
student at Cardiff University, had been to Sidmouth for the day with his family when he saw the hunt. "Traffic was stopping
to let the hunt cross the road and as we got closer I saw a fox come out of the hedge closely followed by the hounds,"
he said. "I could see that a lady was shouting to keep the dogs off the fox so I decided to help." The 31-year-old
crawled through the hedge and pushed the hounds off the fox and then protected it with his body, until the dogs went back
to the hunters. "If it hadn't been for Mrs Lynch's actions the fox would have been torn to bits, that I have
no doubt," he said. "If the law is hard to enforce then it needs to be improved, such as muzzling the hounds."
PC Steve Speariett, who is investigating the incident, said: "In order to prove there was an offence, it has to be shown
that the hunt did not take  reasonable steps to get the hounds away from the fox. We will gather all available evidence and if there's enough to prosecute,
we will. "We believe we know which hunt was in the area at the time." The Hunting Act came into force in 2004, preventing
the pursuit of wild mammals with dogs - but not banning trail or scent hunting. East Devon MP Hugo Swire said: "The Hunting
Act is a badly drafted piece of legislation because many elements simply cannot be enforced. There are more people hunting
than ever. I don't want a repeal of the Act but a bigger and improved Bill looking at animal welfare. Although the Government
is committed to a free vote it's not going to be a priority when there is the budget deficit to deal with." Anyone
with any information should contact Devon and Cornwall Police on 101, quoting log number 216 of 28/12/11.
Cat-killing Hunt piles
on misery by again invading land of bereaved couple
16-1-12 Scarborough Ev.News Couple's horror at hounds' return
A COUPLE have spoken of their horror at seeing a pack of hunting hounds bounding past their Ravenscar home [right] -
little more than a month after their beloved pet cat was savaged and killed by 27 dogs. Les and Margaret Atkinson told the
Evening News they had been assured by hunt members at the time of the incident that they would be given advance notice if they planned to be near their property. But they were surprised last Tuesday when
they saw hunt members on horses and dogs near their home but had been given no warning. Mrs Atkinson said
they had been out during the morning and when they returned they saw a lot of cars parked in a narrow lane near to their Stoupe
Brow home, where they have lived for more than 30 years. She said: "As I walked home I could see the hounds all over
and I could see some running across the fields. I could see horses going past my house. As I got nearer I could see one of
the hounds as it jumped over my wall into the lane by our house." Mrs Atkinson said that her husband took several pictures.
One showed a hound just yards from where their cat Moppet was killed, and she felt like she was having to relive the traumatic
event. She said: "By the time I got back I was shaking like a leaf and I was in tears. I heard them coming along the
lane. The dogs were out of control." Mr Atkinson added: "I couldn't believe it - it
was like we were reliving it  all over again." Mrs Atkinson said if they had been warned then they could have made sure that their remaining pet cat,
seven-year-old George, and five pet hens were safe and secure. Members of the hunt are legally allowed to pass through a bridle
track on the Atkinsons' land. Last month's incident was during a joint meet between hunts from Staintondale and Goathland
and initially a huntsman picked up a lifeless and bloodied Moppet and rode away after it was brutally attacked. But the body
was returned to the Atkinsons by members of the hunt two days later in a dogfood bag. Last week's hunt
was by members from Staintondale and at the time of going to press no one from the group was available for comment. Following
the original incident hunt master Jean Clemmit said that they would take "preventative measures" in future.
And a spokesman for the Goathland Hunt said they would: 1/ leaflet residents living along
any planned routes 2/ place marshals at properties 3/ make sure at least two people were with the hounds at all times.
When the Atkinsons reported last week's incident to the police they were told that because there was no damage nor injury
it was a civil matter. The Atkinsons added that they had been overwhelmed by the messages of support
they had received from members of the public when the story first hit the headlines last month. Mr Atkinson said they had
received a number of letters and Christmas cards - including one addressed to "The people whose cat was killed"
- and an offer of a slate memorial stone. He said: "He just rang up because he felt so terrible about it and said he'd
like to offer a free headstone. I was very moved that someone was prepared to do that."
Farmer 'arrests' man he finds blocking sett, who first
says he's with the local Hunt
Two men later detained by police. South Dorset FH decline to
comment
16-1-12
Dorset Echo Police called after farmer saw man allegedly filling in badger setts
TWO men were detained by police after a farmer saw one of them allegedly filling in badger setts. Gaius Vincent, of Muston
Farm, Piddlehinton, was walking along Waterston
Ridge, off the B3143 near Dorchester, when he
saw a man who appeared to be digging around a sett. Mr Vincent said: "I heard a quad bike, and we have had trouble with people trespassing and filling in holes before, so I followed the noise. I went up to the man and asked
what he was doing. "He was obviously filling in holes, which indicates he
was hunting wild animals, which is illegal, but he denied that." Mr
Vincent told the man he was performing a citizen's arrest, and the man made a call on his mobile phone. He added: "That's when I called the police. At first the man claimed he was with a hunt,
who were out that morning, but I didn't know who he was calling and who would turn up, so I played it safe. "Later
on he said he wasn't employed by the hunt." PC Jacqui Allen [right, with Mr.Vincent], who attended the incident,
said:  "When police arrived, the man had left the scene. "By the time officers caught up with him, he was accompanied by
another man. Enquiries are still ongoing." Mr Vincent said that
the South Dorset Hunt [left] was
out in the area on Saturday morning but there is no indication that the hunt was responsible for the men's alleged actions. David
Walsh, chairman of the South Dorset Hunt, said: "I am not prepared to comment on the incident at this time."
Elizabeth James of the Dorset Badger Group, said: "I think this is disgraceful. I don't know why this man was stopping
the holes, or what he was using to fill them but it makes me cross to think people can just come into the countryside and
harm animals. In the old days the hunt was allowed to soft-stop setts with loose soil, hay or straw to stop foxes escaping
down them, and that was legal. "Badgers are strong animals and they can dig out of that. But it's not legal now,
and you still hear of people filling the setts in with plastic bags or big pieces of rock. That's called hard-stop and
it means the badgers are trapped underground. A whole family can suffocate when that happens. It's
a horrible way to die." PC Jacqui Allen, who attended the incident, which took place on Saturday,
said: "Two people have been detained and are helping us with our enquiries." Mr Vincent
said: "It does make me angry. I farm cattle, and, yes, we kill for food, but I
can't relate to doing it for fun. It's an unpleasant thing to do." He added:
"If it was some bloke from a council estate with a Doberman, there would be uproar, but people hunting wild animals in
the countryside so often seem to get away with it."
PM restates repeal intent, bizarrely claiming
law should have no dominion over hunting
13-1-12
David Cameron today gave an interview to BBC1's 'Countryfile' mostly concerned with
the potential difficulties of the proposed badger cull later this year. He also used the opportunity to assert that he
still intended, despite rumours to the contrary, to try to repeal the Hunting Act in this Parliament. But then, in a
quite extraordinary supplementary sentence, he appeared to opine that he thought hunting with dogs should have always been
immune from any legislation to ban or even regulate it. This, despite the fact that around three-quarters of the public have
regarded it as cruel and barbaric and wanted these 'sports' banned for decades. His statement seems
emblematic of the extraordinary arrogance of the hunting fraternity, of which he is now the most prominent member, and
of his own disdain for democracy, public opinion and the rule of law in matters concerning the close interests of he and
his friends. Cameron can be seen right, posing with his pal Guy Avis, Secretary of his 'homies', the notorious
Heythrop FH hunt gang.
Press Association 13-1-12 PM admits badger
cull difficulties David Cameron has acknowledged that the proposed badger cull trials will involve "no
end of difficulties", including concerns over policing..... Mr Cameron used the interview to repeat his pledge
to allow a vote on repeal of the Hunting Act in this Parliament: "I always thought the hunting ban was a pretty bizarre
piece of legislation, I think there should be a free vote in the House of Commons. My problem has always been that it was
just taking the criminal law into an area of activity where it didn't really belong."
Otis Ferry's hounds cause prolonged traffic
chaos in village, spook valuable horses
Shropshire
Star 14-1-12 Huntmaster Otis Ferry sorry after complaint over dogs
South Shropshire huntmaster Otis Ferry today apologised to a resident following complaints
that a number of hounds caused chaos in a county village. The huntsman, who is the son of Roxy Music star Bryan Ferry, said
he was ‘very sorry’ that Jonathan Edwards had not been informed that the South Shropshire Hunt [right] was
meeting on Wednesday at Pontesford, near Shrewsbury. Mr Edwards, 45, who lives at Lower Mill Farm,
claimed about 30 hounds ran through the village causing disruption to traffic on the A488 and frightening his horses. Mr Edwards
said the incident happened at about 1pm and lasted for about 25 minutes. He said: "They had absolutely no control over
their hounds which were running all over the main road, causing multiple vehicles and lorries to screech to a halt."
He also claimed that the hounds endangered the lives of his three horses, who were spooked by the dogs. "One of my horses jumped over a 4ft high electric fence. If I had not been at home he could have run into the
road and been killed and caused injuries to passing drivers. It took a long time to get the horses under control again. The
one who jumped cost £9,000 and is a great friend and companion," he added. "It
was a sheer lack of respect and it makes me very, very cross. I am not anti-hunt, but in previous years I have had a letter
to say it will be happening so I can get the horses in." Mr Ferry today said: "I do not
think at any point the hounds were out of control. People assume they are out of control when actually they are just doing
their job. I am very, very sorry that Mr Edwards did not get notification. We do our best to  notify every landowner when we are in a particular area. Recently we have had a different master for that area and I can only
imagine that when the last list has been compiled this landowner was not on it. I would urge him to get in touch with me so
he can be added to the list of landowners."
POWAPerson says:- Hunting fanatic and serial offender Otis Ferry
needs no introduction to students of bloodsports in the UK. This is just the latest, by no means the most serious, in
a long line of complaints about his conduct. Here he adds a bizarre twist by claiming that his rioting hounds were not out
of control and 'just doing their job.' Perhaps he'd actually written causing traffic chaos by rampaging all
over an A road, and frightening expensive horses, into their job description. It's certainly a novel way to conduct 'trail
huunting'. Ferry would, presumably, be happy to be portrayed as in the pic above right, but many people would prefer
to see him in the care of the authorities, as he was, alas temporarily, when pictured left in 2005.
Cottesmore
FH 'single stray hound' account after death on railway called into doubt
 Evidence appears to have emerged that questions the veracity of a statement given
by Clare Bell, Secretary of the Cottesmore FH, to the Leicester Mercury. She claimed that a single hound of theirs had strayed
away from the rest and wandered on to the railway to be hit and killed by a train. The train driver maintained from the start
that he thought he had hit 'a number' of hounds. Now, in a second item on the incident, the Melton Times reports
an independent witness, who was out running, saying that he saw hounds 'splayed all over the track'. The reports are
below.
Melton Times 14-1-12 Hunt to review trails after hound is killed on train track
A HUNT has said it will review how it sets out trails after a hound was killed when it was struck by a passenger train. The
incident happened at about 11.45am on Saturday, January 7 when it is understood some hounds from the Cottesmore Hunt strayed
on to the railway track at Wyfordby. As reported in the Melton Times the driver of the 10.22am train from Birmingham New Street
to Stansted Airport told Network Rail he thought he had struck ‘a number of dogs' on the line. A runner who says
he witnessed the incident told the Melton Times: "The train came to a stop by the crossing and I could see the hounds
splayed across the track. They were later recovered by the huntsmen. To run the hounds close to the track does not seem a
little irresponsible to me." Cottesmore Hunt secretary Clare Bell said: "We think the hound in question got distracted
and strayed on to the track and what happened was a tragic accident. Network Rail is satisfied that was the case. The trail
was not set close to the railway line but occasionally and tragically something like this can happen as tracks in rural areas
are not fenced off as they are in built-up areas. We will review what we do. If we had been another field away perhaps this
would not have happened."
Leicester Mercury 12-1-12 Hunting
hound killed after straying on to train track A hunting hound was killed when it was struck by a passenger train after straying on to a railway line. The dog was out trail hunting with riders from the Rutland-based Cottesmore Hunt on Saturday when it got on to the
track at Wyfordby, near Melton Mowbray. It is thought the hound, a four-year-old foxhound called Hazard, became separated
from the other dogs at about 11.45am and was hit by the Birmingham to Stansted airport train. Cottesmore Hunt secretary Clare
Bell [right] was riding nearby at the time, as part of a trail hunt. She said: "This was a freak accident.
It was extremely tragic. It looks as though he got through a hole in a barbed wire fence and strayed on to the track. We think
he got a little left behind the other hounds and was sniffing about as dogs do. The train stopped and we were able to retrieve
the body and take it back to be buried at the kennels, in Ashwell. We are all devastated. I have been hunting for nearly 10
years and I have never experienced anything like this. We go (hunting) where we are invited by farmers and sometimes that
is near railway lines. We take every precaution to prevent the hounds going where they should not, but sometimes it does happen."
A spokesman for the kennels  said he was saddened by Hazard's death. He said: "It's unfortunate but the hounds don't notice and carry
on as normal." Network
Rail spokesman Russell Spink: "It does appear one of the hounds was struck by a train and killed. While in urban areas,
most railway lines are secured by fences. In the countryside, there are points where it is possible for animals to wander
on to the tracks. We have 20,000km of track and we cannot fence it all off.... It is very rare to have an incident involving
hunting hounds."
Melton Times 10-1-12 Hunting dog killed by train A
HOUND taking part in a hunt on Saturday died after being struck by a passenger train. The accident happened at about 11.45am
when it is understood that a number of hounds from the Cottesmore Hunt strayed onto the railway line in the Stapleford area
near Wyfordby Church. A Network Rail spokesperson said that the train driver of the 10.22am train from Birmingham New Street
to Stansted Airport reported that he thought he had struck a number of dogs on the line. A local farmer contacted the Cottesmore
Hunt and the secretary came to collect the dog. The secretary was unavailable to comment on the incident.
POWAPerson says:- Whilst scarcely an everyday occurence, reports of hounds on railway lines,
including incidents in which they are killed or injured, are regrettably common. Early this season a fox, then hounds, were
filmed on a line in Somerset [above left], and hunters only removed the dogs 10 minutes before a mainline train was due. In January last year at least one hound was killed on a high-speed line in Wiltshire, and at least six hounds of the Beaufort FH had been
slaughtered on the same line just over a year before. There have been many such instances in the past, including some where
hunts were actually being conducted on railway lines. Hunts are perfectly aware of the dangers to both their dogs and travellers,
and, if they are genuinely 'trail hunting', you have to ask why on earth they would lay trails anywhere near railway
lines. The claim that the Cottesmore were 'devestated' by the hound's death is risible, given that they,
like all other Hunts, doubtless routinely 'cull' at least ten of their own, healthy, hounds every year. I leave to
the reader the drawing of any conclusions about the apparent discrepancies between the Hunt Secretary's account of
what happened and those of the train driver and the independent witness.
Antis in Cumbria say supporter internet
post backs claims of illegal fox hunting on fells
9-1-12 Carlisle News & Star Is internet post evidence of illegal hunts in Cumbria?
Anti-hunting campaigners claim to have found written evidence that one of the Cumbrian fell packs has been hunting foxes illegally.
They say that a follower of the Blencathra Foxhounds [left] has boasted openly  of hunting with hounds on an internet message board. The Blencathra denies it has ever broken the law.
The post - on the website www.thehuntinglife.com/ - is almost two years old but campaigners have asked
Cumbria Police to investigate. A hunt follower posts how a Blencathra meet was disrupted by anti-hunt campaigners from Northampton.
He writes: "The antis then phoned the cops, which turned up to make sure we behaved ourselves (typical), so we waited
about an hour then got away and hunted the other side of the mountain. When we did get hunting it didn't take long for
some real good sport." Hunting foxes with hounds was outlawed in 2005.
However, hunts still meet to drag hunt  where hounds follow a scent rather than chase a fox. Anti-hunting groups are convinced this is a sham and that illegal fox
hunting is rife. Elaine Milbourn [right], of Torpenhow, a member of Protect Our Wild Animals, said:
"On many occasions when our people have gone out, they have seen hunts on to a fox. They are not following the law at
all. "The police have agreed to go up there but it's a waste of time. They behave themselves when the police are
there. They are just laughing at the law and this is happening up and down the country." The
Blencathra hunts on foot on fells around Keswick. Its kennels are at Threlkeld. Secretary Bob Fell said that a minibus of
anti-hunt campaigners from Northampton turned up at Blencathra meets up to four times a year. But he could not recall the
occasion in January 2009 mentioned in the internet post. He said: "Since the Hunting Act came into force, the Blencathra
has tried to abide by the law. There are occasions when accidents happen, when the hounds get away and we can't stop then,
but we abide by the law and the Hunting Act." He added: "These antis call themselves ‘hunt monitors',
which is ridiculous. They are antis and saboteurs. They cause problems, leading hounds to stray and being abusive to people."
Another Huntsman, also a JM, is arrested
for racially abusing a sab
Tells police wanting to speak to him that he is 'too busy'
A local vicar rides
with Hunt, school head has worked closely with JM
Please note: POWA Hunting News page has a 'no censorship' policy. So the letters starred out in
the Mail article are reinstated below.
14-1-12 Daily Mail Hunt master
'hurled race abuse' at anti-blood sports protestors
Accused of shouting 'You are fucking going to get it,
you bunch of blacks'
Arrested by police, despite calling the authorities to remove the demonstrators
A hunt master has been arrested on suspicion of racially abusing an anti-blood sports protester. Lee Peters
[right], 33, is said to have shouted obscenities at protesters, and is accused of loudly referring to a black woman
as ‘a fuckin g wog'. The father of one is believed to have called police to disperse the anti-hunting group. However when
they arrived, officers were informed of his alleged outburst and arrested him. Mr Peters is master of the
Ross Harriers hunt in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, where around a dozen protesters gathered in 4x4 vehicles at last Saturday's
meet. Yesterday a friend of the black woman said Mr Peters was visibly angered by the protesters'
arrival. Sally James said: ‘When Lee Peters spotted us shortly before they set out, he looked absolutely furious.
‘He immediately rode over to us and shouted, "You are fucking going to get it, you bunch of shits" [Nb.
This may have been an even more vulgar word]. He was banging the handle end of his whip against the windows of our vehicles.
Then he spotted a black woman in the back seat of one of the Land Rovers and shouted to the others he was with, "Oh my
God, we've got a fucking wog in the back here". The woman in question was clearly very upset by this and quite
shocked, as we all were.' Miss James claimed that when police were told of the alleged remarks,
they asked a rider to tell Mr Peters they wanted to talk to him, but he sent back word that he was too busy and would contact
them later. She went on: ‘The officers couldn't believe what they'd heard and went off looking for him.
They were zipping along the lanes until they caught up with him and arrested him.' The police also stopped the hunt for
the day. Another witness said: ‘The man's behaviour was outrageous. It was almost impossible to
believe that in this day and age someone could be so unspeakably vile to another human being.'
7-1-12
HSA Press Release Huntsman Arrested for Racially Abusing Hunt Saboteur
Lee Peters, huntsman for the Ross Harriers, was arrested today for racially abusing a hunt saboteur who was present
to try and stop illegal hunting taking place. As the Harriers left their meet at Penny Farthing, Aston Crews, Mr. Peters shouted
racist remarks about a saboteur to other members of the hunt. Fortunately he was overheard by an independent witness who called
the police. The arrest comes just weeks after Alan Morgan, until last year huntsman to the Cotswold Vale Farmers Fox hunt,
pleaded guilty to racially abusing a hunt saboteur after an incident in late 2010. Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt
saboteurs association, stated: " Sadly it no longer surprises us at the depths members of the hunting community will
sink to. This kind of behaviour is, sadly, all to common and it is just fortunate that on this occasion there was an independent
witness. Hunt saboteurs are verbally and physically abused weekly by hunts but such behaviour only spurs us on in our efforts
to see an end to illegal hunting."
 POWAPerson adds;- South Herefordshire and Ross Harriers [left], to give them their full name, hunt close
to the Welsh border near Ross-on-Wye. It is one of the few remaining packs to boast that fine English rural tradition,
a hunting vicar. Online hunting magazine 'The Master's Voice' [should be 'Vice', surely? Ed.] reported in March 2011 that the vicar of Weston-under-Penyard, Neil Patterson,
suggested the local primary school be invited to take part in a 'trail hunt' with the Ross Harriers. Lee Peters and
the headmaster, Brian Bird then arranged this, and 38 mounted children, and 40 on foot, participated. One wonders, if
Peters is convicted of the racial abuse for which he was arrested, what the attitude of the Church of England and the local
education authority will be to their vicar and head teacher respectively associating with him. Though, of course, our established
Church has always smiled indulgently on 'sport' involving the wilful infliction of suffering on defenceless animals,
and allowed hunting on most ecclesiastical land, its modern doctrine, at least, rather frowns on any manifestation of racism,
let alone one so extreme as that with which Mr. Peters is accused. Local education authorities tend to be a touch intolerant
of such behaviour too, so perhaps they'll have a word in the Headmaster's ear about maybe not taking the kiddies out
on any more animal-abuse inductions, at least not with this particular Huntsman.
Sabs
claim Old Surrey/Ashford Valley FHs joint meet chased and killed fox
Paddock Wood Courier 13-1-12 Protestors claim fox was killed by
dogs on hunt near Paddock Wood TENSIONS between anti-hunt
protesters and hunt supporters have escalated following claims a fox was killed by hounds in Paddock Wood countryside at the
weekend. Protesters, keen to see if groups have been flouting the 2004 ban, said they were prevented from following riders
as they entered fields close to Pike Fish Lane. Prominent anti-hunting campaigner Dave Wetton [left] then
claimed hounds had been used to kill a fox during the meet on Saturday, organised from the nearby Upper Fowle Hall Farm. He
said: "The leading redcoats blocked the road to delay us monitors from following the hounds into the fields." Mr
Wetton and other monitors from the Hunt Saboteurs Association were attempting to observe a joint meet of the Old Surrey, Burstow
and West Kent Hunt and the Ashford Valley Hunt. As the horses and hounds headed towards fields near Collier Street he claimed
hounds were heard "baying" at around 1.30pm. "We believe they had found a fox, or at least a strong scent of
one. The baying went on for less than a minute before stopping," he said. "Scents can suddenly disappear but we
think they caught this one because the huntsman gave the standard single drawn-out blast on the horn, which signifies a kill."
Kent Police confirmed they were looking into allegations over dangerous driving and road blocking but said there was insufficient
evidence to investigate claims a fox had been killed by hounds. Both hunts refused to comment.....
Mr Wetton accused the hunt parties of using fox scent trails which he claimed endangered foxes near the hunt.
'Mayhem' as Blackmore &
Sparkford Vale FH hounds riot through village after fox
Blackmore Vale Magazine 6-1-12 Hunt says sorry for Marnhull hullaballoo
A HUNT master has apologised to villagers after hounds broke away from their trail scent route and chased through  Marnhull [left] after a fox. Michael Felton, joint master of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt [below right]
, said he was sorry if the hounds had upset residents by the New Year's Eve incident. His apology followed a complaint
made by a villager who claimed the hounds had caused alarm as they ran through residential roads off Burton Street.
The villager, who does not want to be identified, said: "A lot of people were really upset and anxious. The hounds were
running through gardens and trying to scale fences. They were not under control and just rampaged through there. There weren't
many riders but there were followers on quad bikes. It was mayhem for about half an hour." The villager said people had
been anxious about their pets' safety. Some hounds had been seen running through a field of sheep. Another resident described the incident as chaotic and noisy. Mr Felton said: "We got slightly
out of where we intended to be. "The hounds follow a trail but it seems they picked up the scent of a fox and went after
it. There are occasions when foxes jump up and the hounds switch. Hunt staff know if that happens they must stop the hounds
at once and get them back on to the trail." Mr Felton said he was too far behind the hounds to witness the incident but
understood three hunt staff were present and called the hounds away as quickly as possible. He added: "I apologise without
reservation if anybody has been upset by it and we would, of course, make reparation if there has been any damage. This sort
of thing happens very rarely but I can understand all the hullaballoo would make people jumpy and I am sorry."
The hunt had set out from Yenston with approximately 80 riders plus people on quadbikes and in vehicles.
Mr Felton said far fewer riders were with the 35 hounds as they reached Marnhull. He said he had not heard of any damage caused
nor a fox being seen in Marnhull. A spokesman for Dorset Police said they had gone to Marnhull after receiving a call from
a member of the public. No offences had been committed.
POWAPerson says:- Yet another 'accident' while
'trail hunting'. There cannot be many, if any, fox hounds still hunting that were active before the Act. Hunts have
had seven years to train their hounds not to hunt foxes, yet strangely they riot on to them time and time again. And isn't
it strange that, almost regardless of what Hunts do, police all over the country are nearly always quick to conclude that
'no offences have been committed.' - unless its racism, of course. At least something seems to trump social
deference, or whatever it is that normally inhibits them.
Female sab violently assaulted by Cottesmore FH supporter
in Lincs, claim
4-1-12
HSA Press Release Female Hunt Saboteur violently assaulted during illegal Foxhunt
On New Years Eve, a female hunt saboteur was violently assaulted by a supporter of the Cottesmore Foxhunt who
were meeting at Gunby, Lincolnshire. The saboteur was on her own when she saw the hunts hounds illegally chasing
a fox. As she intervened she was thrown to the ground by a man who then smashed her over the head with an aluminium bottle
before pinning her down and pouring the bottle's contents over her face. As other saboteurs came to her aid the cowardly
attacker jumped in his vehicle and drove away. The attack was witnessed by a young girl who was sitting in the attackers vehicle
as well as other members of the hunt who stood and watched rather than intervene and stop the attack.
The police were called and are currently investigating the attack. Lee Moon, spokesperson for
the Hunt saboteurs association, stated: " Such a cowardly attack is what we have come to expect from the hunting community.
They are cowardly in their illegal murder of wildlife and they are cowardly when they attack those who try and stop them.
This man only had the courage to attack a lone female but fled as soon as her friends arrived. We hope Lincolnshire police
do everything in their power to catch him.
Pentrych FH hounds riot after fox through gardens near
busy shopping centre
3-1-12
South Wales Echo Fox hunt's dogs terrify neighbours
Hunting hounds left families terrified in their homes as they cornered a fox close to a busy South Wales shopping centre at the weekend. More than a dozen dogs from
the Pentyrch Hunt [right] chased the fox thorough gardens in Talbot Green before escaping back into the countryside.
Startled residents in Maes-y-Rhedyn [left] said  the dogs tried to get into their houses - and then jumped over garden walls into a busy main road. Housewife Gillian Webber
said: "I was in the kitchen and I heard someone shout out to the hounds ‘get back'. I said to my son, ‘the
hounds are out of control', but was only joking. Then, to my horror, I realised it was true. The dogs were in my garden.
The hounds then ran riot."
POWAPerson says:- Thanks to former huntsman turned anti Clifford Pellow for alerting
us to this incident. Looks like nobody actually reported it to the authorities, so the Pentrych didn't have to give any
account of themselves. But we know what the explanation would have been, don't we? 'Trail hunting' blah blah...
hounds stumbled across a fox... blah blah ... couldn't call them off.... blah blah.... accident. Left is a map,
with Maes-y-Rhedyn, in the S.Wales town of Llantrisant, in the top left quadrant. Doesn't really look like ideal fox hunting
country to me. All those traffic fumes and cooking smells must wreak havoc with the scenting conditions.
INVADING HOUNDS SAVAGE FOX IN DEVON. LANDOWNER & PASSER-BY FIGHT VAINLY
TO PROTECT HORRIBLY INJURED ANIMAL
29-12-11 Hounds Off Press release Mystery man who
wrestled with hunting hounds in 'nightmare' incident remains unidentified Sidmouth resident Miss Cilla Lynch found herself
in the middle of a pack of hunting hounds as she tried to save a fox on Boxing Day. The incident happened adjacent to the
A35 near Shute, Axminster in Devon, on land which has been owned by Miss Lynch's family for 25 years, and has been reported
to the local police. Foxhunting with hounds has been illegal since 2005. As dusk approached,
shortly after 4pm Miss Lynch was in her field with her father and three dogs. She could hear horsemen on the road and the
sounds of a hunting horn, which she described as a "commotion". Some hounds came in to her field and,  in the instant that she opened a gate to let them out, a fox came through a hedge with a pack of hounds almost on top of it.
Miss Lynch shouted at the hounds and wrestled them to get them off the fox. Then a passer-by,
who had stopped his car and got out, pushed his way through the hedge on his hands and knees. Miss
Lynch said, "He waded in amongst the hounds and fought them off before crouching over the frightened animal to save it
from being ripped to pieces." There was a lot of yelling then horsemen
called their hounds away. The fox [left] had been fatally wounded and could not be saved.
Miss Lynch added, "You see these things on telly but to see it actually in real life
so close it's dreadful. I told the people on horseback and their followers to clear off so they couldn't cut the head
and tail off for trophies, but I feel terrible." Miss Lynch, who
remains in a state of shock and described the episode as "a nightmare", would love to find and thank the man who
"appeared from nowhere" and helped her to protect the fox. Miss Lynch described him as "a
very nice man" and "a hero". She said everything happened so fast that she didn't even have a chance to
find out his name but recalls that waiting for him at the roadside was two woman and another man. The Axe Vale Hunt is known to operate in that area. Their Chairman is Mr C.R. Williams from Whitwell
near Colyford. He claimed not to have been hunting on Boxing Day but said, "I expect that probably a fox jumped up and
the hounds couldn't be stopped. We use a false scent but if a fox jumps up their smell is a lot better and they (the hounds)
follow that." Mr Williams said "I don't know" when asked
what the Axe Vale Hunt used as an alternative scent to live fox but observed that stopping a pack of hunting hounds was
very difficult without being able to actually get in front of them. A spokesman
for the advisory group Hounds Off, which supports people who suffer from hunt trespass, said that they were aware of what happened and working with Miss Lynch
to ensure that it is not repeated in the future. Robbie Marshland,
The UK Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare said, "I am shocked to hear of yet another hunt that has let their dogs run amok and kill a fox. It's important
that the police investigate this case thoroughly as no one should be above the law. This horrific incident was clearly distressing
for those who witnessed it and our sympathies go out to them."
The
Sun 31-12-11 Fox dogs fought off AN animal lover fought
off a hunt's pack of hounds to stop them ripping a fox to pieces. He then crouched over the wounded animal to protect
it as huntsmen recalled the ten dogs - but the fox died 20 minutes later. Priscilla Lynch, 52, saw the bloody scene on her
land in Shute. Devon. She said: "I kicked at the dogs then a passer-by wrestled them off. I don't know how he wasn't
bitten. It was just awfu!." Priscilla has reported the hunt to police for allowing dogs to kill foxes - illegal since
2005. A hunt spokesman said they would co-operate with the police probe.
Sunday
Independent 1-1-12 Woman tells of fox killed by hunt POLICE are investigating a hunt after
a landowner reported that a pack of hounds had killed a fox in her field. Priscilla Lynch, 52, said she and a passer-by had
tried to save the fox from ten dogs. Police confirmed they were aware of an incident at Shute, near, Axminster, East Devon,
and had begun an in-vestigation into the conduct of the Axe Vale Hunt. Foxhunting with hounds has been illegal since 2005.
Miss Lynch said of the incident: 'I am an animal lover and this was just awful. think they are breaking the law, that
is why I reported it to the police? Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that they had received a complaint from Miss Lynch
and were set to interview her. The Axe Vale Hunt confirmed they had gathered for a most on Boxing Day and had been in the
Shute area. Hunt spokeswoman Sally Maynerd said she had not seen any incident bit the hunt would co. operate with any police
investigation. She said "We were legally hunting on Boxing Day."
Surrey
Union FH terriermen and supporter assaults caught on film, say sabs
Landy-ramming supporter from Boxing Day arrested again and car impounded
Facebook - Sabin Guldford 28-12-11 ... back from another successful, interesting
and violent day at the Surrey Union foxhunt at Newdigate [below]. After the violence of Boxing Day we were
joined by the Croydon  and Hastings group whose presence was most welcome. The day started well when the [gentleman] that rammed our
Landy and fired a catapult at us turned up again giving us some verbal. He refused to stop for the police was promptly chased by the police who arrested him for having no insurance and failure to stop and had his
vehicle impounded...... the Hunt were aggressive and [irritated]
from the start (we must be getting to them), saying we were on private property even when we were on a footpath. The terriermen and supporters then attacked the sabs [seen right, reporting the assaults]. We had a least
5 videos running all of which show our people being attacked and punched by the terriermen. We will be supplying
videos to the police of these known terriermen and arrests will hopefully follow The police then pressed the panic button and at least 10 police vehicles turned up (didn't give us any grief).
The Hunt can't be happy that the whole area looked like a war zone and it must put landowners off from hosting meets.
The sabbing was good we were on the hunt most of time only lost them for about
half an hour and they spent most of their time avoiding us rather than hunting, which was a result. Photos to follow as usual (videos will have to wait until we show them to the police)
Cottesmore terrierman to face prosecution for
hunting fox, failing to ensure cubs' welfare
27-12-11 Spalding Guardian RSPCA
fox welfare case adjourned AN RSPCA prosecution in which two men are accused of hunting a wild
fox with a dog and failing to ensure animal welfare by confining a fox  in a barrel will go ahead at Spalding Magistrates’ Court next year. John Bycroft, 66 [left], of Weston Hills
Road, Low Fulney, and Jamie Round (24), of Washway Road, Holbeach, deny the charges which arise from an incident in the vicinity
of Fen Road, Holbeach, on April 24 this year. Bycroft denies three further charges of aiding a person unknown in the vicinty
of Spalding to fail to ensure the needs of an animal were met. These cases relate to the following day and the alleged abandoning
of different numbers of fox cubs – seven, six and five – in a sack without adequate ventilation and light. Neither
man was present in court yesterday when solicitor Rachel Stevens entered not guilty pleas on their behalf. The hearing was
adjourned to January 18 for a trial date to be set. POWAPerson knows nothing about the
younger man, but John Bycroft is the father of two professional Huntsmen. Mark, who has a conviction for assault on a sab
is with the Surrey & Old Burstow FH, while Nick is in charge of the notorious Crawley & Horsham's pack. John is,
or was, a terrierman with the Cottesmore, Union of Country Sports Workers and, according to the Leicester Mercury [see below]
was a 'Real Countryside Alliance' activist. The circumstances leading to his present prosecution are unclear and they
may or may not be related to charges of armed trespass which were dismissed a little earlier in the month [see below].
19-12-11 Spalding Guardian Gun at care home charges are
dismissed LOW Fulney man John Bycroft has had two charges of trespass with firearms dismissed.
Bycroft (66), of Weston Hills Road, pleaded not guilty to trespass with a shotgun at a children’s care home in Holbeach,
The Three Chestnuts, on April 25 this year. He also denied trespass at the same place on the same date with a slaughtering
pistol. The cases went to trial at Spalding Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and were dismissed after defence solicitor
Rachel Stevens made a submission there was no case to answer. 15.9.03
Leicester Mercury COUNTRY STRIFE - They are the rural radicals vowing to bring civil disorder
to Britain. Lee Marlow meets a huntsman turned Real CA activist. Wherever John Bycroft goes in his big, bad-boy
pick-up truck, people pip their horns and wave. "Good on yer mate," they shout, and stick their thumbs up and smile…
John was born in Ashby, chases foxes with the Cottesmore Hunt and grew lettuces in a greenhouse the size of a football pitch
in Lincolnshire before selling up five years ago....
BBC News features POWA's anti-hunt film-maker and a veteran
sab, trouncing CA rep
26-12-11
BBC's fairly extensive and, for a change well-balanced, coverage of Boxing Day hunting featured the meet of the notorious
Warwickshire FH [left] at a National Trust property near Banbury, Upton House [right].
 First interviewed was an aged female rider who decried the Hunting Act but said they were having 'lovely fun'
trail-hunting within the law While waiting for repeal, and trotted out the standard CA li[n]e about them enjoying
more support than ever. Then a local farrier was interviewed, claim who claimed that his trade had been hit by the decline
in hunting. [Some confusion here?! Ed.]
Early bulletins featured Denise Ward, producer of 'Minority
Pastime' [below right] talking about her disturbing experience of investigating organised hunting post-ban. She said she thought about 85% of Hunts were still chasing and killing wild
animals.
We later saw a debate between veteran anti-hunt activist and sab Michael Haines and Tracy Casstles, National Director of the CA [below
right, Mick is the pretty one]. He talked with passion and knowledge, strongly asserting his repeated personal
witnessing of hunts breaking the law, attacking activists and stealing their cameras. Tracy was stilted, parroting
stock pro-hunt propaganda sound-bites. She got into particular difficulty after complaining that monitors film children
who are out hunting. Mick retorted that a favourite hunter tactic is to call the kids in front of the cameras, then  accuse monitors of being 'paedopholies'. But they are the animal abusers and [as scientific studies have shown] animal
abusers are often more than ready to abuse humans too.
Joint Master Michael Spencer later denied they were breaking the
law and said their activities were open for everyone to see - but one wonders, if that is so, why this Hunt has seemed even
more aggressive than most towards monitors. Denise, who'd accompanied Mick to the Warwickshire meet, later posted on Facebook of feeling indimidated by the mass of hunters - and
of how they were menaced and harangued by Hunt terrier men;-
As some people have seen AMP was mentioned both on BBC Breakfast and on the national news yesterday. I was at the
Boxing Day meet reported on BBC news and was interviewed - it was quite an intimidating experience isolated in the country
with a huge hunting crowd, and I was given 'friendly' advice by the hunt master that we 'slip away quietly'
after the filmed interview - good avice it seems as the terrier man quad bike which was behind the scenes came and parked
right up against our car as we sat quietly out of sight waiting to be able to leave, and a young terrier man ranted and raved
at the car window telling us we weren't alllowed to be there (on National Trust property). There was no way out through
the meet itself so someone had to let us out of a back entrance.
Surrey
Union FH follower arrested after sab car rammed and missile fired at it
Facebook Sabin Guildford 26-12-11 A
great ( if violent day ) at the Surrey Union foxhunt [left] at Oakwood Hill.... The sabbing was very good
we got two foxes away thanks to the skill of our foot  sabs, but the main story of the day was when a hunt supporter in a Shogun rammed our Land Rover from behind and shunted us
ten yards up the road. When we chased after him.... to get his number plate the hunt supporter fired a catapult at us, hitting
our Land Rover and narrowly missing our driver (all of which was captured on video). The hunt supporter was then chased by
police and arrested [right], and we carried on sabbing and later gave statements of the attack at Reigate police
station.
HSA PR 26-12-11 Surrey Union press release Another day
of hunting on Boxing Day, no doubt the Countryside Alliance will paint a picture of thousands of people enjoying a picturesque day in the beautiful English
countryside, hoping to ignore the hidden truth. The hunting community is in its death throes, it wants to be allowed to kill
animals with impunity once more, and as this possibility becomes more and more distant the hunters get more desperate. The
Surrey Union no doubt sees itself as one of the more prestigious hunts located as its territory is, in the home counties.
This Boxing Day it met at the Punch Bowl, Oakwood Hill, Surrey. As usual the local hunt sabs were in attendance keeping an
eye on any illegal hunting. Towards the end of the day a 4WD vehicle rammed the saboteurs Land Rover from behind and proceeded
to shunt it about ten yards down the road, while another hunt vehicle tried to block them in from the front. Managing to extract
themselves from this incident the police were called, but the attacking vehicle was kept under observation to assist the police,
the driver then pulled out a catapult and fired at the vehicle hitting close to the drivers door. The police duly arrived
and a man has been arrested and charges are expected shortly.
Film showing errant Blencathra hounds hunting a cat released
22-12-11 POWA today received a short clip clearly showing what Cumbria sabs say are hounds from the Blencathra Hunt trying to catch a pussy cat [left]. The
voices are those of hunt sabs. The horn was used by them to successfully distract the hounds away from the cat, which
 escaped. They say the Blencathra Huntsman, Barry Todhunter, was half a mile away, alone, and the pack he was supposed to be
controlling were scattered far and wide. The footage was shot between Penrith and Keswick. Cumbria Sabs have posted
a statement:-
Facebook 22-12 Cumbria hunt sabs dropped in at the Twa Dogs
Inn-coffee morning of the Blencathra foxhounds on Tuesday. Three sabs arrived at Twa Dogs Inn around 10am, prompting hunt
support to jump in their vehicles and scatter off.... The next hour or so was spent searching all likely bolt-holes for
the pack, and our determination paid off just after noon.... the
sabs decided to split up, two going it on foot, the other remaining with the vehicle to stop it being damaged..... The
two sabs on foot worked their way to the old railway line, just off Mosedale viaduct, and managed to position themselves just
in front of oncoming hounds. Within seconds they, in full cry, were upon the sabs and it was only quick intervention which
stopped the hounds catching and killing what they were onto, a cat! Some timely horn calls raised their heads for a few precious
seconds, giving the terrified moggy enough time to make good its escape, and allow the sabs to quickly spray the area! The
whole incident was also captured on video, and this footage is being made the most of.... The next hour was spent trying to catch up with Barry [Todhunter, the Huntsman], who by
now was desperately trying to call the hounds back in. As the sabs on foot got closer to him it was apparent he'd totally
lost control of his pack..... By 2 o'clock
the hunt was over.... A good day for Cumbria hunt sabs, a very good day for the poor cat, and some valuable video footage captured, sorted! :)
N.Shropshire
Hunt hounds chase fox into town housing estate, run on to major road
Shropshire Star 21-12-11 Hounds in Newport housing estate rampage
Thirty hounds went rampaging along the A41 and a Newport housing estate after a huntsman lost control of the dogs. Organisers
from  the North Shropshire Hunt [left] said they were at a loss as to why the hounds ran off on Saturday. The dogs ran
across gardens belonging to residents of Deer Park Drive [right] before scampering onto the A41. Andy Wheals,
who was leading the hunt, said: "I would like to profoundly apologise to any residents and anyone driving along the A41.
I'm just so pleased that neither a person nor a dog was hurt. "We were out trail hunting around Edgmond late Saturday
morning when we lost the hounds. It was a freak accident and won't happen again." One resident, who didn't want
to be named, said: "Two of my neighbours saw the hounds running up Deer Park Drive chasing after a fox. It was horrible
to see." Chris Ammonds, spokesman for West Mercia
Police, said they attended the incident within 10 minutes of receiving a call at 12.20pm from worried residents.
POWAPerson:-
'Freak accident' while 'Trail Hunting', eh? Ah well, can't be helped then. In a further development a
squadron of flying pigs has also been seen circling over the town.
Motorist
couple drive into midst of fox hunt nightmare. Police investigating
Lutterworth Mail 20-11-12 Police investigate
illegal hunt claims CLAIMS an illegal fox hunt was taking place in the Harborough district
are being investigated by police. Officers are looking into a report of illegal hunting activity dating from November 26 in
Shearsby where a fox was allegedly seen being harmed. A witness to the alleged breach of the Hunting Act said she was appalled
by what she and her husband saw. Driving past, she said they had to brake when they saw a fox being chased across the road
in front of them by around 30 hunters, all wearing black. The woman said there were hounds with blood on them and a number
of 4x4 vehicles following the hunt. She added: "We didn't see the kill. We drove off but my husband said ‘you
shouldn't be doing that' to one of them but the hunter just turned away. We live in the middle of the countryside
but it is against the law and they shouldn't be getting away with it." Did you witness this. Speak to police on 0116
2222222. No arrests have yet been made, a police spokesman said.
POWAPerson says: It is absurd and offensive
that nearly seven years after the Hunting Act wild animals should still be regularly subject to this ruthless persecution
for 'sport' or that passers-by should have to risk running into the vile business and the vile, arrogant people who
indulge in it. Although in their 'country', it may not, of course, have been the Fernie. But they do have 'form'
for illegal hunting, though they tried to wriggle out of their Huntsman and terrierman's convictions with what the Judge
scathingly described as 'cynical subterfuge'.
Cotswold Huntsman Alan Morgan
convicted of racial abuse of sab
18-12-11 POWA has today been informed that, following incidents
at a meet in February and complaints to the police, the Huntsman of the Cotswold Vale Farmers FH has pleaded guilty to racially
abusing a sab, fined £100 and ordered to pay £200 compensation to his victim. As Morgan's offence was, apparently,
fully captured on video, a guilty plea was probably wise. He becomes the 296th individual connected with an organised
Hunt in the UK who POWA records show as having received a criminal conviction or caution in the last 20 years, and
the 39th official Huntsman to receive such legal sanctions.
POWAPerson says:- Sabs have made numerous
reports, and complaints to police, of assaults by servants and/or supporters of this Hunt. I believe the racial abuse incident
was at the same meet, on 26-2-11, when they made allegations of a mob-handed and prolonged attack on several sabs, resulting
in some injuries, and which they claimed was both instigated, and participated in, by Mr. Morgan. The full text
of the sabs' report can be read here. Since then, in March police arrived in force at the Hunt's behest, arrrested several sabs for, the activists say,
no good reason and then red-facedly had to drop the charges. In October a CVFFH hound was killed by a lorry when the pack
ran out on to an A road, with hunters and sabs blaming one another. A week later, monitors filmed the Hunt all over another road for several minutes, causing traffic chaos. Pictured right, A CVFFH hunter berates sabs in that calm and polite way
they have. The horse seems resigned to listening to it yet again.
Moppet massacre
by hunt hounds brings unusual level of media interest
Police now say they are investigating, with RSPCA
Scarborough Evening News 16-12-11 Moppet's tragic death sparks
national reaction AN OWNER of the family pet which was mauled to death by hunting dogs [left]
has said he had been "amazed" by the reaction to the incident. Since the tragic story of elderly tabby Moppet's
death appeared on the front  page of the Evening News on Tuesday, it has featured in several national newspapers and Les Atkinson appeared live on BBC
Radio Five yesterday..... Speaking to the Evening News yesterday, Mr Atkinson said that he hoped the interest
in the story, which has now reached an audience of millions, would spread awareness and ensure other pets do not suffer a
similar fate to Moppet. He said: "The phone has never stopped and people have been very sympathetic. It has all been
very positive. We haven't the slightest interest in making any money or getting any compensation. We just don't want
this to happen to other people. When those dogs are on their own they're daft, but in a pack they're a killing machine.
I think hunting with dogs should be banned.".... Mr Atkinson said that although a representative of the Staintondale
hunt had apologised, he had not heard anything from the Goathland hunt. The League Against
Cruel Sports has condemned the hunting parties for causing Moppet's death. The national charity's chief executive,
Joe Duckworth, told the Evening News: "This is yet another example of the total lack of regard hunters have for members
of the public. Sadly these incidents happen all too often with hunters riding rough shod over the feelings of individuals
who get in the way of their blood sport." The police issued incorrect information on Monday, stating their investigation
into the cat's death was over. It has now confirmed that the incident is being investigated, alongside the RSPCA.
The Daily Telegraph 14-12 had a big piece which was similar to other articles, but added this from Mrs.Atkinson:-
Retired teacher Margaret Atkinson, 59, who has been married to husband Les,
75, a retired coach builder, for 35 years, slammed the "tasteless" nature of her return. Mrs Atkinson
said: "They brought her back in a dog food sack, which is horrendous. My husband said it was probably the first thing
they had to hand but that's the point, it shows how little she was cared about." She said her and her husband had
heard the commotion from the hounds but didn't realise Moppet had been killed or taken away by a member of the hunt. "I was running around looking for her," said Mrs Atkinson.[right]
"My husband then saw one of the men riding off with something bloodied in his hand but we didn't really know what
had happened. We then saw two hunt members and politely asked them if they could please find out if our cat had been killed.
They came back a bit later and said that was true and told us Moppet had probably been taken because they didn't want
us to see her in that state. That may be the case but I wish it would have been handled better." She
said she hadn't received any apology over the death of Moppet, who was "completely deaf" and wouldn't have
heard the hounds coming. She said: "A member of the Staintondale hunt brought her back but apart from
that no-one, particularly from the Goathland hunt, has been in touch by email, phonecall, a card or a personal visit just
to say they were sorry." Mrs Atkinson, who has lived with her husband in the area of coastal
countryside for 31 years, said they own land either side of a public right of way and have had problems with hunts before.It's a worry as we have cats and hens," said Mrs Atkinson. "We realise we
can't stop them as it's public but they need to control the dogs more. "They're not vicious dogs to people
but if they see an animal they will go for it."
Other articles on the incident:- Scarbourgh Ev.News 13-12, BBC News Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Yorkshire Post,
Cattistock chased fox on to A30, blocked
road, held 'procession' on it, say monitors
14-12-11 The following account has been sent by Helen Weeks, POWA Associate, to the press, police
and her MP.
 On the 8th December, the Cattistock Hunt [left] met in Hardington Mandeville. I went to the meet to tell the
Joint Master/Huntsman Will Briars to stay away from where I live near Coker Hill because there were foxes in this area. Mr.
Briars turned his back on me as I spoke to him. I was polite. My fellow monitor and I were  told to leave (or the police would be called), which we did. An hour later,
at mid-day, the full pack of hounds chased a fox across the fields below Coker Hill on to and across the busy main A30 to
Crewkerne ending up scattered all over the place on the other side of East Chinnock. Three quad bikes, the professional huntsman,
the whipper-in, Lady Charlotte Townsend [left], a guest Lord in a  tweed coat, several visiting red coats and the rest of the riders came thundering past us in a dangerous manner (we were on
foot on the narrow public bridge which crosses the A30), while their supporters in 4x4s rushed down the Coker Hill slip road
and on to the A30. The hunters did not have a clue where the hounds were. Half an hour later,
most of the hounds were rounded up and led down Chinnock Hollow and the whole hunt formed a procession, over both lanes of
the A30 [right, above & below], through the whole length of East Chinnock. Hunt quad bikes held back the traffic.
A furious police officer turned up in response to angry phone calls from motorists, but unfortunately, not furious enough
to look for the hunters who were carrying on hunting in the area. So  concerned were we that only luck prevented a serious accident, my fellow monitor Graham Forsyth visited our MP, David Laws
in his surgery two days later. Mr Laws's response was that police were short of resources.
It was a miracle that no one was injured that day with an out of control, pack of hounds, suddenly and unexpectedly running
onto a busy main road. If there had been a pile-up with people injured or killed - then the police would have had to find
the ‘resources'. I think it is scandalous that these fox hunters are flouting the law and endangering human lives,
and no one does anything about it. When I told some hunters that the police were looking for them, they just smiled and thanked
me in a sarcastic way.. These arrogant people just do not care - little wonder when we have a fox hunter for Prime Minister
and Minister Nick Herbert, another hunter, in charge of policing.
Goathland & Staintondale FHs' hounds kill
pet cat, hunter steals body
Scarborough Evening News 13-12-11 Hunt dogs
savage family pet A COUPLE have been devastated after dozens of hunting party hounds savaged and
killed their family pet. Elderly tabby Moppet [left, relaxing at home, right, dead], aged 18, was outside her home
in Stoupe Brow, near Ravenscar, when 27 hunting dogs bounded onto land belonging to her owners Les and  Margaret Atkinson. The dogs brutally attacked the cat before a huntsman picked up a lifeless and bloodied Moppet and rode
away. Hours later members of the hunt, which was a joint expedition between Staintondale and Goathland parties held earlier
this month, were confronted by the Atkinsons - and it was admitted that Moppet had been killed. Moppet's body was returned
to the Atkinsons by members of the hunt two days after she was killed and she has now been buried. A younger cat belonging
to the Atkinsons, George, escaped the dogs by hiding in a stable. Mr Atkinson said: "We just heard a commotion outside and saw the hounds and a huntsman off his horse. He just
kept saying ‘I'm sorry.' Then he got back on his horse and he rode off." The couple then searched in vain
for Moppet, with splashes of blood on the ground being the only trace of their beloved pet. When two huntsmen passed a few hours later, the Atkinsons [right] asked
whether they knew what had happened. Mrs Atkinson said: "I just said I think your hounds
have killed my cat. They went to find out and came back. They said the dogs had killed her but that it had been an accident."
She added: "It was horrific. She didn't stand a chance. She was an old lady and it was not the way for an innocent
animal to meet her end. I can't bear the thought that in her last few moments she was in terror. She didn't deserve
to die like that. Moppet was a big part of the family. We bought her the year my daughter went to secondary school. She's
a 30-year-old teacher now and is married. She was devastated when we told her." Mr Atkinson said: "To be honest, we've spent a lot of time crying. She would curl up on our knees every
night and would wake us up in the morning. I'm retired, so I would spend hours talking to her. I had to take photos of
her for the police which was a bit harrowing. You could see the bite marks." Members of the hunt are  allowed to pass through a bridle track on the Atkinsons' land legally. In future the couple, who have eight grandchildren,
will be given advance warnings of any hunts. Jean
Clemmit [left], Staintondale hunt master, said: "I wasn't there at the time, but as soon as I was aware
of the incident I went to see the Atkinsons. "It's very regrettable and is upsetting for everybody but we can't
undo what has happened. I haven't been involved in anything like this before. We will take preventative measures."
She claimed that the cat's death would have been reported to the Atkinsons and the body returned - even if the couple
had not been aware of the incident. Bill Dobson, chairman of the Goathland hunt, also said that Moppet's death had been
"regrettable". He added: "We always try to control the hounds and normally they are very well behaved."
Scarborough RSPCA officer Geoff Edmond said he was "very concerned" after learning of the incident. He added: "Obviously,
this would have been very distressing for the cat and her owners." The incident was reported to the police and although
they investigated the matter a spokesperson said yesterday that no further action will be taken.
POWAPerson says:-
The Daily Mail ran a feature on this incident on 14-12-11. It included the pic of Moppet's corpse [above right] and of the bag
in which the Hunt returned her. In what is either a crass piece of insensitivity or a premeditated insult they used a
DOG food bag.. As the Atkinsons say they have not actually received an apology, perhaps we should presume it was the latter.
The Hunt Chairman just saying it was 'regrettable' and apparently trying to shift the blame to the cat by saying
it was only attacked by their hounds because it 'panicked and ran away' was also hardly likely to bring comfort to
the bereaved couple. Lack of normal human empathy or shame, often outright callousness, and attempts
to evade responsibility are regrettably typical of Hunts when they invade others' property and cause distress to residents
and terror to their animals. The chasing and sometimes savaging and even killing of pets or livestock by their out-of-control
dogs seems to be just an occupational hazard to them.
"It was totally and utterly barbaric and shocking." says 'not anti-hunt' resident
as Essex&Suffolk FH invade his garden and Whip beats savaged fox to death on his patio
Daily
Mail 12-12-11 Clubbed to death on a garden patio: Family claim they watched 'barbaric' huntsman
kill fox in neighbour's garden A family watched in horror as a hunt killed a fox on their
patio after the hounds went wildly off course. Mick Heath [left], 53, was at home with his wife Jane, 61, in Bradfield,
Essex when 40 hunting hounds burst into his elderly neighbours' garden as they chased  down a fox. The graphic designer, along with a friend and his teenage son, claim a member of the Essex and Suffolk Hunt strolled
across the patio and clubbed the fox to death just feet from where they were watching. Although the hunt group say the fox
was killed by the hounds Mr Heath is adamant the animal was clubbed to death. The RSPCA have been informed of the attack and
are now understood to investigating whether an offence took place. Mr Heath, who is not opposed to hunting,
said 'It was totally and utterly barbaric and shocking. 'We were at home having a nice, normal weekend when we heard
the commotion - voices, horns and the noise of the hounds and they were so close that I threw my three cocker spaniels indoors.
The fox had gone to ground at the end of our neighbours' garden. The hounds piled in and suddenly the whipmaster of the
hunt walked across the patio [still blood stained, right] and clubbed the fox to death in front of us.
'My friend Joe, who is an outdoorsy chap who knows the ways of the countryside, turned to him and said "you ba**ard".
It is thought that the hunt was using the hounds to try to flush out smaller animals and then use the hawk to make a kill
- which is legal under the terms of the Hunting Act. Mr Heath
has accused the hunt of not being in control of the pack of hounds. He said: 'All 40 hounds were in the back garden in
a tiny area - it was a disgrace and it was so inhumane. 'I am certainly not anti-hunt, I have taken my grandchildren to
the farm to watch as it is a wonderful spectacle and I have nothing against what they do. Mrs Heath, a business
administrator, added: 'It was horrific and it was absolutely ghastly.' Animal
rights group PETA has slammed the  hunt. A spokeswoman said: 'Whether the fox was clubbed to death or ripped apart by dogs, the animals horrific death was
the result of a barbaric pastime has no place in a modern, ethical society. It takes a small person to enjoy traumatising,
hurting, and killing animals.' The Essex and Suffolk Hunt [left] has denied that the
fox was clubbed to death. James Buckle [below right], a senior huntsman, said: 'It was a horrible situation where
we virtually had to watch and could not intervene. 'The fox was killed by the dogs - there is no way that the hounds would
do half a job. I can see how it would have looked like that to a bystander and the would have been horrendous. The huntmaster
was whipping the pack to get the dead fox from them. We have apologised to the owner of the garden and they have accepted the apology. 'There
is no way that a pack of hounds would have been on that fox and not killed it. It could have easily looked like he was hitting
the fox but he would have been moving the hounds off it - it must have been quite a shock to see. It is like giving your dog
a bone and then trying to take it back..... he would have been quite tough with the hounds. They should not have been in the
garden in the first place - the whole thing was incredibly unfortunate.' Lawrie
Payne, national secretary for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: 'Hunts up and down the country are going out with
these birds with no intention of of using them. 'It is done to allow them to carry on their sport without, supposedly,
breaking the law. 'There are very few birds which are able to take on an animal as large as a fox - it is a joke and what
they are doing is cock a hooting at the law and making a total and utter mockery of it. An Essex Police spokesman said: 'They
were hunting with a bird of prey and the pack accidentally picked up on the scent of a fox which attracted the hounds. The
hunt mistress was spoken to by police. Officers have also spoken to to the owners who are satisfied with police action - there
was no offence committed on the hunt, which was legal.'
The incident was was
also covered by the Telegraph, London Evening Standard and Daily Mirror, but those articles are shorter and add
nothing.
POWAPerson says:- This is one of the worst public outrages [most of their cruelty goes
unseen] perpetrated by a Hunt since the supposed ban in 2005, though it is by no means unique. It is wrong on so many levels
it's hard to know where to start.
The Falconry Exemption [Hunting Act 2004, Schedule 1, Part 6] is the element
of the legislation behind which the Essex & Suffolk Hunt are sheltering in this case. Whilst POWA objected
strongly to the number and laxity of the loopholes being afforded to Hunts while the Bill was being enacted, it appeared even
then that the Falconry Exemption was the likeliest to give them scope to carry on hunting live quarry much as before, but
be able to pretend they were acting within the law. Given that 50-60,000 hunters had, it was claimed, already signed a public
declaration that they would not obey a ban, that seemed like handing a flame thrower to a pyromaniac. Other animal
welfare groups, and UK falconry's main governing body, the Hawk Board, also objected. There was no real reason to
include this exemption, it being totally unnecessary to permit free-running dogs to be used to flush quarry to birds of prey.
What was worse, unlike most other exemptions, Part 6 allowed ANY quarry to be 'flushed' by ANY NUMBER
of dogs ANYWHERE they had landowner permission - and it failed to specify exactly what 'flushing' was, or
for how long a wild mammal could be chased by hounds during it.
It was immediately obvious that
Hunts would drive a coach and horses through the spirit, probably also the letter, of the law with this gift - and they have
done so. Yet, mysteriously, the exemption survived the scrutiny process intact. Tony Blair has since, in
his memoirs, boasted that he had 'sabotaged' the Hunting Act and said he'd told his Policing Minister not
to enforce it. One does not have to be a conspiracy theorist to seriously wonder if this exemption was specifically designed
for the Hunts' benefit. Since the Act, monitors and sabs have reported seeing many Hunts carrying birds of
prey round with them [often bumped about in tiny containers all afternoon] but not a single report of a bird of prey actually
being used by a Hunt is known to POWA. In any case, the birds in question, mostly eagle owls or Harris hawks, would scarcely
be willing or able to tackle prey as large, and dangerous to them, as a fox. If they tried, the likely outcome would
be a protracted fight with both seriously injured, and the bird would seem likeliest to be killed.
The
truth is that the Exemption is being used by many fox Hunts simply as a fig-leaf to disguise illegal hunting and to provide
a fallback excuse if they are seen chasing foxes with a pack. Hare hunts don't need the exemption, because they
simply [and equally absurdly] can just pretend they were hunting rabbits, which remained legal. Despite
its ridiculous misuse, though, police and CPS have so far singularly failed to challenge any Hunt relying on the Falconry
Exemption. Should either of these pieces of 'cynical subterfuge' look likely to fail, though, Hunts have
a second line of defence - they will simply claim they were 'trail hunting', the dogs picked up a scent and they couldn't
get them back. It was an 'accident' and so not illegal hunting. Lax wording in the Act itself allows Hunts usually
to get away with this defence - though genuine drag hunts never seem to sufffer these kind of 'mishaps'.
To what happened at Bradfield on 10-12-11. Whether the Essex & Suffolk FH were wilfully breaking the law or whether
they were just being reckless in how they hunted, this sort of incident was an 'accident' waiting to happen. Only
last year, residents of Bildeston reported seeing hounds of this Hunt chasing a fox through the village, with riders and supporters
following after [Ipswich Evening Star 26-3-10], but there have been many instances of such 'havoc' with the Hunts
bringing trauma and, often, death, on to the doorsteps of the public, since the Act was passed.
It is, however,
understandable, for the reasons outlined above, if the Essex police felt unable to press a Hunting Act charge in this case.
It is less comprehensible that they appear to have decided against any of a multitude of possible other criminal charges.
Off the top of his head, POWAPerson [a former criminologist] can think of at least five candidates which, if the main witness
was reported correctly and assuming he'd be backed by his family and friend who were present, might well 'fly':
1/ S5 Public Order Act [causing fear, alarm, distress, etc] , 2/ Wild Mammals Protection Act offence [beating a wild
mammal is amongst its prohibitions. Unlike the feeble Hunting Act, the WMPA carries a potential prison sentence for offenders],
3/ Armed trespass [the 'arm' being the weapon allegedly used to club the fox to death], 4/ Criminal Damage, 5/ Theft
[as the fox was killed on Mr.Heath's land, the corpse became his property and the Hunt removed it without permission].
There may be prevailing reasons why police could not proceed with some of these, but I think most people will be really
shocked that they seem content with letting the Hunt get away with this outrageous and callous behaviour. Obviously, the fact
that the Hunt's Senior Master was High Sheriff of Suffolk [a royal appointment] until last year would have nothing to
do with their decision-making though.
In the experience of POWA and other anti-bloodsports campaigners, Hunts
simply do not care who they inconvenience, scare or cause expense or give grief to, so long as they have their perverse
'sport'. They will continue to chase and kill wild animals with dogs, continue to put other people's pets, livestock
and feelings at jeopardy, continue to endanger users of road and rail, continue to threaten and attack people who try to disrupt
or record their wrongdoing, until the Hunting Act is strengthened so significantly that it becomes much easier to
enforce/prosecute/convict and much more of a deterrent.
POWA extends its sympathy to Mr.Heath, his family and friend
who were forced to witness this atrocity at close range, and to their, we understand, elderly neighbours, whose garden was
invaded also. We would refer all of them and other residents to the 'Hounds Off' website, or to that of the League Against Cruel Sports, where free advice about how to try to make your property/neighbourhood a
'HuntFree Zone' can be found.
Redcoat
filmed whipping sab as more Southdown/Eridge FH supporter violence reported
HSA Press Release 11-12-11 Violence
and intimidation in a national park On Saturday 10th  December, over 50 hunt saboteurs attended the meet of the South Down & Eridge fox hunt at Old Erringham Farm, north of
Shoreham. This Hunt has been increasingly violent to any anti-hunt people during the season and the last time they were attended
a catapult was used to fire missiles at people, injuring one female hunt saboteur. Right from the start the hunt tried to
run from any observation and one red coat used his whip to attempt to strike people. Although the hunt was kept in close observation
during the day only one attempt to make a false scent was observed, the rest of the day they seemed to be hunting illegally.
Towards the end of the day hunt supporters drove quad bikes at hunt saboteurs, blocked access onto to public access land,
punched people and finally attempted to gain access to force their way into a vehicle punching anyone who tried to resist.
These are not isolated incidents, but a continuous campaign to prevent anyone observing the hunts activities, and trying to
make sure they stay within the bounds of the hunting act. If they are hunting legally why do they try to hide? The South Downs
is now a national park run by the South Downs National Park Authority, and it has to be questioned why they allow such activities
in the national park, when they will be liable for any incidents of illegal hunting?
Photo, right, shows redcoat
about to strike the sab [in black] as he climbs over the gate.
Video
shows hunter aggression as dig-out stopping sabs' charges are dropped
 Facebook Sheffield Saboteurs ..... Five sabs were later arrested for "tresspassing
to disrupt a lawful activity" and had all their changes dropped the day the were due to appear in court recently!....
So, yet again the arrests of sabs by North Yorkshire Police have come to nothing. They have
continually ignored illegal hunting, gone to great lengths to protect the hunts in the County and made 14 arrests of sabs
this season. As we are not breaking the law, 12 of those cases have been dropped with no further action (except suing the
police), long before trial and the other 2 will no doubt be dropped soon as well.
See 28th November report below for the origin of this story. Sheffied Sabs, who were covering the hunt
with Doncaster and W.Yorks groups, have now posted a clip on Facebook which shows sabs bravely and non-violently resisting attempts by several hunter
thugs to remove them from the earth [above left], despite some of the sabs being struck and manhandled. One
of the hunters calls up his masters for instructions and is told to return to kennels, but they vow to return later
for the fox. Sabs say they decided to remain because of this and that they resisted two further attempts to by hunters
get at the fox. The pic right is a shot from film taken by sabs of what they claim was a fox fleeing the
Hunt earlier in November.
Scots hunt
ban architect requests police probe as 'abuses' revealed
4-12-11 Scotsman on Sunday Lord Watson calls
for police to probe fox hunts THE architect of the ban on fox hunting in Scotland has urged police
to ensure the law is being enforced after it emerged that as many foxes may be being killed by hounds as before the change
in legislation. The controversial ban on hounds being able to kill their quarry was introduced ten years ago in one of the flagship reforms of the first Holyrood
parliament. But according to hunt officials, three times as many foxes are now being killed as before, with two-thirds being
shot. The rest are still being killed by hounds, although the hunts argue they are working within the legislation. But Lord
Watson [right], who as Mike Watson MSP introduced the Protection of Wild Mammals Act (Scotland) 2002, said: "I'd
be very unhappy if that's the case, and that is a matter for police to pursue. "It was difficult legislation to frame
and I accept  that it's difficult legislation, in some circumstances, to enforce. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be enforced.
The exemption was not designed to give carte blanche to those involved in hunting to let their dogs run amok." The Act
makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with a dog. An exemption allows foxes, as a "pest species", to be flushed
from cover and shot, and states that no offence is committed if the dog kills the fox in the course of it being flushed towards
the guns. According to Trevor Adams [left], huntsman with the Buccleuch Hunt, Scotland's largest fox hunt, up
to three times the number of foxes are being killed by the Buccleuch Hunt as before the change in law, which would mean that
as many foxes now are despatched by dogs as a decade ago. The remaining two-thirds are shot. The protocol on how to hunt foxes
within the new law was developed by Adams and other leading members of the Buccleuch Hunt, and endorsed by the Masters of
Foxhounds Association. Tim Bonner, a spokesperson for the association, said the Buccleuch figures were likely to be typical
of other hunts. "Those numbers make perfect sense,"
he said. "When you're flushing to guns, of course a proportion of the foxes will be caught by hounds before they
get to the guns. There is also a significant level of wounding by the guns, and the foxes are finished off by the hounds.
We don't believe that the foxes killed by hounds are necessarily any worse off. Endless research has been done which shows
that it is no less humane than any other method. The legislation doesn't make any sense and the act is no victory for
animal welfare." Six of Scotland's ten mounted fox hunts are within the Lothian and Borders Police area, but the
force do not police hunts as a matter of course. Detective Superintendent Cameron Cavin, in charge of wildlife crime for the
Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: "The Scottish police service has a duty to investigate any complaint
of a breach of the law. If an allegation is received of a possible offence under the legislation, this would be investigated
thoroughly, including application of the statutory exceptions."
6-12-11 Scotsman.com
TEN years after controversial legislation changed fox hunting for ever, it still thrives
among the riders who regard it as a birthright It is a beautiful
late autumn day in Selkirkshire..... A shaft of sunlight slants down through the clouds, falling on a distant field and picking
out a figure on horseback, a man in a scarlet coat galloping after a pack of hounds and followed by a dozen or so riders.
The urgent, staccato sound of a horn carries quite clearly through the mild morning air and confirms that this is indeed a
fox hunt... Yet this is 9 November, 2011, almost ten years after a law was passed that, most people believe, banned the blood-sport
forever. In fact, fox hunters - in a wily move reminiscent of their cunning, jinking quarry - have survived the politicians'
attempts to exterminate their way of life and are thriving in 21st-century Scotland. "Hunting is not," as one female
rider observes, "something people round here would ever give up lightly." .... The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland)
Act was passed - in the teeth of furious opposition led by the Scottish Countryside Alliance - on 13 February, 2002. The legislation
outlawed the hunting of wild mammals with dogs, but made some exceptions. It is legal to use dogs to flush a fox from cover
in order for it to then be shot, so long as this is done as a form of pest-control. The Act further states that no offence
is committed if the dog kills the fox during the course of this activity, in other words if it was not the intention of the
huntsman that the dogs should do so. These loopholes have allowed fox hunting to continue in Scotland. Hunts now present themselves
as pest-control operations offering a service to farmers. The packs of hounds, followed by riders, chase the fox towards waiting
gunmen who attempt to shoot it. If the fox is killed by the hounds before it runs towards the guns then that is regarded as
an accident and therefore within the law.  Hounds are also used to kill foxes that have been wounded by the gunmen or are otherwise seriously injured or diseased. Once
the fox is dead, either by bite or shotgun pellets, the hounds still sometimes chew on it. Trevor Adams, huntsman with the Duke of Buccleuch's Hunt [left] for the last 23
years, suggests that of all the foxes killed by his hunt, one third are dispatched by hounds. However, as a result of the
introduction of guns, many more are now killed than before the change in law; in the case of the Buccleuch, it is thought
that up to three times as many foxes now die in a season. This means that roughly the same number of foxes are being killed
by hounds as before the ‘ban', and there is no reason to believe that the Buccleuch is unrepresentative. Indeed,
the protocol on how to hunt foxes within the new law was developed by the Buccleuch and endorsed by the Master of Fox Hounds
Association, the governing body for fox hunting in the UK. The new approach was then tested in court when - in 2004 - Trevor
Adams became the first person to be prosecuted and the first to be acquitted under the new law. The huntsman
is "majorly proud" of the role he has played. As he puts it. "I'd love my gravestone to say, ‘Here
lies Adams. He was the saviour of fox hunting in Scotland.'" Lord
Watson, who, as an MSP, introduced the bill that changed the law, remains confident that his legislation has made fox hunting
less cruel than it was before. How does he feel, then, about the idea that a third of the foxes killed during hunts are killed
by hounds? "I'd be very unhappy if that's the case," he says, "and that is a matter for the police
to pursue." But the hunt would say that everything it does is within the law and its exemptions.
Should the law, therefore, be changed? "No, I don't think the Act should be revisited. It was difficult legislation
to frame and I accept that it's difficult legislation, in some circumstances, to enforce. But that doesn't mean it
shouldn't be enforced. The exemption was not designed to give carte blanche to those involved in hunting to let their
dogs run amok.".... Make no mistake, though fox hunting is presented as a form of pest control, few
if any of the riders with the Buccleuch - or, surely, with the other hunts - pay their annual subscriptions because they want
to help farmers protect their hens. Trevor Adams is quite open about it. "We are very definitely in the entertainment
business," he says...... Johnny Richardson, the 19-year-old whipper-in, has hounds speaking as his mobile ringtone. "When
they are absolutely screaming, you turn into an animal," he says. "I can't describe it. It just puts you into
a different world."... The Buccleuch... works with around 25 hounds at a time, or to use hunting's curious arithmetic, twelve and a half couple. Fox hunters in Scotland are no longer lobbying for a change in
the law. They are grumblingly content with the present situation and consider it unlikely - even with an SNP majority - that
a Holyrood vote would go their way. Scottish hunters say they would not cross the line and start allowing the hounds to catch
the fox, as they are worried that if they were caught doing so, Holyrood might decide to outlaw their sport entirely.
At present, fox hunting in Scotland is not policed. Lothian and Borders Police would respond to any complaints of law-breaking,
but there are no officers out there making sure that foxes are shot rather than killed by hounds. Neither do there seem to
be many hunt saboteurs - known as ‘antis' - monitoring what is happening..... For all the political and media attention
given to fox hunting in the run-up to the ban, almost a decade on, as the huntsman flashes scarlet through the fields and
woods, he does so largely unobserved.... During the day Scotland On Sunday spends with the Buccleuch Hunt, only one fox is
killed. A second is shot but escapes wounded into woods at the side of the A7, pursued by the pack screaming across the road
in full cry. It seeks refuge in a badger sett, where - because of the legislation that protects badgers - the hunt must leave
it alone even though it may die from its injuries. One, possibly two deaths, then, but fox hunting itself is in seemingly
rude health. Whatever you think of it, whether morally repugnant or a splendid tradition, it would seem that this is the sport
they couldn't kill. "The antis won the battle," says Allan Murray, chairman of the Buccleuch [above right],
with evident satisfaction, "but they haven't won the war."
Hunter on foot filmed whipping Cheshire Forest FH redcoat's
horse
1-12-11
You Tube A short video clip uploaded today purportss to show a hunt servant or supporter whipping the rear of a horse being ridden by a redcoat from the Cheshire Forest
FH on 26th November. It shows two redcoats trying to persuade their mounts to jump a hedge. A man carrying a whip, who can
be heard shouting 'Hang on' to them, then runs up and, as one of the redcoats tries again to get his horse to jump,
starts whipping its rear. It seems the rider is consenting to this. The hors can clearly be seen reacting adversly to
the blows. The clip ends abruptly mid-incident and POWA is trying to get more information.
Sabs stand ground three times to stop 'illegal'
York & Ainsty S. FH dig-out
Facebook Sheffield Saboteurs 28-11-11 Here [see photos left and right] sabs are preventing an illegal dig-out of a fox which had  been hunted into an earth by the hounds of the York & Ainsty South hunt. Sabs stood their ground - taking several punches
from the terrier men in the process. The terrier men eventually backed down and left. They returned to the earth a further
two times that day to try and resume the dig-out but sabs stopped them each time and stayed there till dark to ensure they
couldn't kill the fox. Five sabs were later arrested for "tresspassing to disrupt a lawful activity" but will
be found innocent in court soon. Video to follow.
Fox hunting
Tory MP's "We are perfectly content" quote undermines pro-repeal campaign
27-11-11 James Gray, the Conservative MP for
North Wiltshire who rides with the Avon Vale FH [right], has long been one the very most fanatical campaigners against
any restrictions on quarry hunting with hounds. His opponents will be astonished - and his fellow bloodsports aficionados dumbfounded and aghast - by what he said today
on the BBC's Politics Show West. His words seemed to both undermine the fight for repeal and to rather give the game away about
how little Hunts are being restrained by the provisions and enforcement of the Hunting Act. He averred that:- "... the law is so bad that hunting
today is better than it's ever been before, so that it's a really thriving sport within the law, so we're not
calling... for repeal just now, we're perfectly content with the way it is."
There seem two possible
interpretations of Mr. Gray's words. One is that Hunts are genuinely 'trail hunting' and finding it so enjoyable
that they don't wish to return to live quarry hunting. Active anti-hunt campaigners know this is not, with very
few exceptions, the case. What pretty well all other pro-hunt campaigners say confirms that. Anyway, the MP/huntsman's
unequivocal stance in favour of quarry hunting to date makes this interpretation untenable - in the absence of a
Damascene conversion. The other interpretation is that what he really
means by saying the HA is 'so bad' is 'so ineffectual'. This makes more sense, but also seems to render
his statement a tacit acknowledgment that the Act is so riddled with lax wording and exemptions, and so little enforced, that
Hunts are finding it interferes little with 'business as usual.' All 'within the law' though [obviously]. Except when it's not, and those are always 'accidents'. Either way, the MP's
words will be embarassing and perplexing for the Countryside Alliance, the Campaign for Hunting, the rest of the bloodsports
lobby and - not least to Gray's friend the Prime Minister, who has only recently reaffirmed his personal support
for repeal. It's unclear, then, quite who Mr. Gray claims to be speaking for. Perhaps he was employing
the Royal 'We'! Maybe he [they?] could elucidate.
The MP's comments are at 53m 54s in
the Show, with the filmed report referred to in the article below repeated before that, starting at 49m 55s. Further
information on the hunt-loving MP is also in the article below.
Crawley & Horsham hunters 'lose
it' and insult police over alleged inaction on sabs
26-11-11
The HSA uploaded a video clip on to YouTube showing extraordinary scenes of prominent hunters from the Crawley & Horsham FH lambasting and insulting police officers
at a meet. They seemed angry that the police had not responded immediately to their summonses and had failed to arrest any sabs. The tirade of the Huntsman into a policeman's face [right] is worth quoting: "I've put up with this for twenty b*****y years. And you lot have done nothing. We are sick
and tired of you people. You are useless." He stomps off, then calls over his shoulder - "Why
don't you just go and admit you're one of them, huh?" Another, plain-clothes, hunter, appears to
call a police sergeant a liar. The hunters claimed that people had been driven and spat at by sabs. Since
everything sabs and monitors do now seems to be filmed, they will surely come forward with evidence of the allegations. But
don't hold your breath - somehow such claims always seem to melt away when proof is called for.
One would have thought, especially given that four senior Hunt members have to appear in court to be tried for various
Hunting Act offences in April, that the C&H would want to try to maintain good relations with the forces of law and order.
But, apparently, some of them are just unable to restrain their natural arrogance, sense of entitlement and vicious tempers.
The C&H has an appalling record of violent and aggressive behaviour towards anti-hunt activists, with several convictions
against supporters, servants and Masters. See W.Sussex Wildlife ProtectionGroup website for more details.
Leading
South West JM admits hunters would lose Commons vote on repeal
25-11-11 BBC Regional News The programmes 'Points
West' and 'Spotlight' both ran items featuring Diana Scott [left], long-standing JM of the Devon and
Somerset Staghounds, acknowledging that her side would lose a vote in the House on  repeal of the Hunting Act. She averred "... I think the vote would be bound to be wrong for us. Yes." .
It was also stated that many pro-hunt Conservative MPs privately admitted believing the same and did not want the 'Indicative
Vote' promised by fellow hunter David Cameron to take place because of this. Spotlight's Poltical Correspondent,
Martyn Oates, pointed out that the excuse for not having brought the Indicative Vote forward already - the need to deal
with the failing economy - doesn't really wash, because it would use only a little of the time routinely allotted
for such measures in the House. Robbie Marsland of IFAW pointed out that the National Wildlife
Crime Unit have stated there have been "Many, many"' reports of illegal hunting in the South West, but these
have been met with little response from the purported upholders of the law. He said "We Devon and Somerset hunting
ban fight put on hold Attempts to repeal the hunting ban have been put on hold by a Devon and Somerset group which said it
believed a parliamentary vote now would be lost. The Master of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, Diana Scott, said she
believed the coalition government would not welcome a repeal. Prime Minister David Cameron has said he believed the ban did
not work, but the House of Commons would decide. The Labour government banned hunting with hounds in 2005. Mrs Scott said:
"We haven't got a Tory government, it's a coalition and I think the vote would be wrong for us." Previously,
Mr Cameron has said: "I think it's an issue that will come forward in due course and the House of Commons will decide.
My own views have always been that the hunting ban doesn't work and isn't effective." Mrs Scott said that she
believed the law would be repealed in the future. Devon and Somerset hunting ban fight put on hold. Mrs Scott said that she
believed the law would be repealed. would very definitely like to see more police activity in this area - and in many others
round the country." 
The Tory MP for North Wiltshire, James Gray, is to appear in further discussion of this topic on BBC West/South-West's
'Politics Show' on Sunday, Nov 27th, at noon. Gray [right, mounted at a pro-hunt
protest outside Parliament]. is a fanatical hunter and one-time Conservative Shadow Countryside Minister. He rides
with the Avon Vale FH and made his own sterling contribution to the vaunted '700 hours' of Parliamentary time
spent discussing the hunting ban. As a member of the Commons Committee on the Hunting Bill in 2004, he appeared to be attempting
to bore its anti-hunt MPs to death by emitting endless-seeming hours of pro-hunting waffle during the Committe's
proceedings. In 2006, the press reported a scandal in his private life, including a Daily Mirror article branding Gray as a 'love rat'. It alleged that the Honourable Member had left his wife following a 19 month affair
with a barrister's spouse, who he apparently met while campaigning against the Hunting Act. during which time, it
said, Gray's partner had been battling breast cancer and supporting his re-election. The ensuing scandal led to denunciations
of him by former supporters, and his consituency party executive voted to de-select him. This was later overturned by
a wider member vote, perhaps in part because David Cameron gave Gray his strong backing. He was inevitably returned for this
rock-solid Tory seat at the General Election in 2010.
BBC News
website 27-11-11 Devon and Somerset hunting ban fight put on hold
Attempts to repeal the hunting ban have been put on hold by a Devon and Somerset group which said it believed a parliamentary
vote now would be lost. The master of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds, Diana Scott,
said she believed the coalition government would not welcome a repeal. Prime Minister David Cameron has said he believed the
ban did not work, but the House of Commons would decide. The Labour government banned hunting with hounds in 2005. Mrs Scott
said: "We haven't got a Tory government, it's a coalition and I think the vote would be wrong for us." Previously,
Mr Cameron has said: "I think it's an issue that will come forward in due course and the House of Commons will decide.
My own views have always been that the hunting ban doesn't work and isn't effective." Mrs Scott said that she
believed the law would be repealed in the future. Devon and Somerset hunting ban fight put on hold. Mrs Scott said that she
believed the law would be repealed.
 POWAPerson says:- We remain unconvinced that, even with the arithmetic seemingly against them, the, dominant, pro-hunting elements in the Tory heirarchy will entirely abandon their attempt to nullify the Hunting
Act, But one assumes that David Cameron is rational and that the nearer we get to the next Election, the less willing
he would be to risk massive public obliquy by supporting such a tainted cause, even though it is close to his own heart.
In the ensuing campaign fight, the public will be reminded forcibly of the numerous pre-ban atrocities whose
revelation helped lead to the Hunting Act. Diana Scott was a JM of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds when two such incidents
involving that Hunt were filmed by the courageous monitor, Kevin Hill, then working for LACS, causing great public outcry. These
[left and right] were the manhandling and botched shooting of a hunted stag in the River Barle and the savaging of another
by hounds at Marsh Bridge near Dulverton on Exmoor. Mr.Hill was, not for the only time, savagely beaten by hunt supporter
thugs after filming the first incident.
'Minority Pastime'
revision and update complete and will preview in Stroud
Stroud
News & Journal 24-11-11 Screening to be held for award-winning anti-fox hunt
documentary
AWARD-WINNING anti-fox hunt film ‘A Minority Pastime' will have
a special free preview screening in Stroud next month. Written and produced by Slad Valley-based filmmaker Denise Ward, the
documentary, narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart OBE [right], was part-filmed in Gloucestershire and follows Denise's efforts to understand why the outlawed act of fox hunting is still so important to those who do it. Earlier
this year the feature-length flick received an award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which was presented to
Denise by Queen guitarist and animal rights campaigner Brian May at the House of Lords. Denise, who was inspired to back anti-hunt
causes after witnessing a deer torn apart by a baying pack of hunting hounds, will host a Q & A session after the viewing
to discuss the issues raised in the film. Stroud mayor John Marjoram, former MP David Drew and Painswick Parish Council chairman
Terry Parker will be among those attending the screening - sponsored by Ecotricity and Mills Café. Invitations have
also been extended to sixth form students across the Five Valleys and Stroud MP Neil Carmichael, who last year pledged to
vote for a repeal on fox hunting should the issue arise in parliament again.
'Minority Pastime' website AMP Productions is very excited to announce that the new version of A Minority Pastime
will be showing at a Special Preview in Stroud on the 4th December, at 7.30 p.m. To attend email  nisa@aminoritypastime.net or phone 07527527603.... The [original] film centred around a letter to then opposition leader David
Cameron. In the run-up to the 2010 general election Cameron made a promise that if he became Prime Minister he would repeal
the hunting ban that has been in place since 2005. Protagonist of the film, Denise Ward, wanted to know
why he wanted to repeal the ban and make fox-hunting legal again. Now.... Cameron is Prime Minister, but
the coalition with the Liberal Democrats has restricted the Conservatives implementing some of their pre-election pledges.... However
in the midst of widespread spending cuts, the fox-hunting bill has been moved to the back burner. We do not doubt however,
that the Conservatives will follow through with their pre-election pledge and will put the vote to parliament. For this reason
we believe that it is as important as ever to reveal the violence and intimidation that surrounds this ‘traditional'
and ‘symbolic' pastime. The new version of Minority Pastime is shorter, slicker and even more powerful.
As in the original version, the film follows Elcombe resident Denise Ward as she embarks on a personal journey to find out
the truth behind fox-hunting. She soon discovers that behind the red coats and beautiful horses is a world of violence and
abuse in which it is not only animals who suffer, but people too..... Shocked by the first film, Sir Patrick
Stewart kindly offered to provide the voice-over for the new edit and his narration works wonderfully alongside Denise's
investigation. Above, left
and right, scenes of havoc and violence from the film
Surrey Union FH
supporters accused of attacks on sabs, injuring one Facebook Sabin Guilford 22-11-11 ... back from another violent day at the Surrey Union foxhunt at  Edolphs House, Charlwood. We managed to stick on the hunt for a few hours stopping them killing, but we were then attacked by the hunt at Norwood Hill. Our female sabs were pushed around by hunt
supporters, one redcoat stole one of our cameras and threw it into some bushes, then one of our male sabs was ridden down,
head-butted and punched in the face. We called the police. Five cars turned up and took statements. Some of the sabs went
into the meet and identified the red-coat, with the hunt telling the police that they couldn't come on private property
- which pissed them off lots, with them saying they could go anyway they wanted as they were investigating a crime. Arrests
will follow.
POWA understands that video evidence of the alleged attacks will be released
once the police investigation is closed. Meantime, above left and right, are two stills already posted on Facebook. Left,
Keith Nicholson, terrierman [sorry Keith - 'countryman'] remonstrates with a female sab. Right, the sab who was allegedly
head-butted and punched.
Cattistock deny
use of artificial earth or fox feeding, both filmed by LACS
Dorset Echo 18-11-11 Cattistock hunt hits back over League
Against Cruel Sports claims A HUNT has denied that fox numbers are deliberately being kept high
so that the animals can be hunted illegally. Hunters have defended themselves against allegations that artificial earths,
structures designed for foxes to live in, are being maintained and food is being left for the animals. The League Against
Cruel Sports carried out a national investigation and, acting on information from a local source, one of their officers went
to inspect a wood in Dorset. The officer, who did not want to
be named, said: "When I first found the earth all the plants were trampled down and I could smell the foxes. "I also found a massive pile of
offal that had been dumped nearby with clear car tracks leading off to the road." He set up a hidden video camera in
the wood which captured footage of a man [right] coming and dumping more offal and also showed a fox coming
and feeding there. While the practice of maintaining or setting up artificial earths is not i llegal, dumping animal meat in this way would be an offence under the animal by-products regulations due to the high risk
of spreading disease. Animal rights activists believe that the only explanation for this behaviour is that
foxes are still being illegally hunted. Joe Duckworth, the League's chief executive, said: "Our investigators have
shown without a shadow of a doubt that there is a determined effort amongst the hunting community to keep fox numbers artificially
high. The evidence points at a pattern of extreme behaviour which I am convinced may be connected with other wildlife crimes
such as hunting with dogs." The land in question, situated between Evershot and Cattistock, is
owned by the Hon Charlotte Townshend, High Sheriff of Dorset, and one of the richest women in the country. A spokesman for
Ilchester Estates, which manages Mrs Townshend's land and property in Dorset, said he did not wish to comment on the League's
allegations. Mrs Townshend is also joint master of local hunting group, the Cattistock Foxhounds, who regularly hunt in these
woods. Will Bryer [left], Master of hounds for the Hunt, called the league's accusations ‘barmy'. He
said: "We refute these allegations. "They're ridiculous. Artificial earths have been around since the beginning
of time but we have no use for them now. If someone is putting food out for foxes, it's not us. To me this is just a smear
campaign. We get this every year at the start of the hunting season."
Western Daily Press 21-11-11 Hunters ‘feeding
foxes up to kill', claim anti-hunt campaigners Hunts across the West are engaged in a ‘nationwide
criminal conspiracy to encourage and sustain fox populations in order that they can be hunted'. That was the claim by
anti-hunt campaigners after a undercover operation found that artificial earths in hunting areas are still being maintained
to make sure there are foxes to hunt. The covert surveillance operation was undertaken from July to October this year by teams
of monitors from the League Against Cruel Sports, and targeted hunts the length and breadth of England. Hunts have denied
that the artificial fox earths, the maintenance of them and video footage of people bringing food for the foxes are anything
to do with them, and said the claimed evidence "proves nothing". The revelation that artificial earths, to encourage
foxes to breed, are maintained to keep fox numbers up dealt a major blow to the hunting lobby's argument before the 2005
ban that foxhunting was necessary as a form of pest control. That they are still being maintained six years after the ban,
claims the League Against Cruel Sports, shows that hunts are still routinely breaking the ban and intentionally hunting foxes.
Monitors discovered three artificial earths in woodland around Stow-on-the-Wold and Cold Ashton in Gloucestershire, on land
regularly hunted by the Heythrop Hunt. In Wiltshire, close to the Badminton Estate, the monitors discovered three more artificial
earths were still being maintained. In other locations in the country, artificial earths were discovered with metal grilles
hanging near them, which the League said was to make it easy to quickly block them up on hunt days. But the League claimed
the most damning evidence came in Dorset, where hidden cameras filmed an unknown man dragging a barrel full of offal and dumping
it close to a newly maintained artificial earth, inhabited by foxes. The spot between the villages of Cattistock and Evershot
in Dorset, is owned by the Hon. Charlotte Townsend, the master of the Cattistock Hunt. Hidden cameras filmed a man dumping
a barrel of animal by-products in the wood and filmed the foxes taking the food away. The League's chief executive Joe
Duckworth said the findings were the "tip of the iceberg", given that 87 per cent of the hunts they chose to look
at had artificial earths in their regularly hunted woodland. "In just a short space of time our investigators have shown
without a shadow of a doubt that there is a determined effort among the hunting community to keep fox numbers artificially
high. "The evidence points at a pattern of extreme behaviour which I am convinced goes far and beyond the evidence obtained
by the League in this investigation and may be connected with other wildlife crimes such as hunting with dogs," he added.
League chairman John Cooper said: "This evidence points to a nationwide criminal conspiracy by foxhunts to encourage
and sustain fox populations in order that they can be hunted." The League admitted it cannot definitively
prove that the people who maintain the earths or feed the foxes are connected to local hunts. The joint master of the Cattistock,
Will Bryer, said the Cattistock was the victim of a ‘smear campaign'..... And Tim Bonner, from the Masters
of Foxhounds Association, said the hunts had nothing to do with artificial earths. "The earths are not only used by hunts.
They are also used by gamekeepers to locate foxes so they can find them and kill them," he said.
POWA Person says:- It is unsurprising that the Hunt deny any connection with the
artificial earth and fox feeding. To do otherwise could be an admission of involvement in criminal offences. Inquiries
are, we understand, ongoing. But artificial earths have been used since time immemorial by Hunts and nobody in the anti-bloodsports
movement has ever heard of gamekeepers employing them, or of this explanation being offered before. People will decide for
themselves who is right. See also 30th October story on release of LACS artificial eraths report below.
Countryside Alliance
chief's shock resignation shakes bloodsports set
Politicalscrapbook.net
18-11-11 Countryside Alliance chief quits amid anger over fox hunting strategy It seems all
is not well on the farm - the farm being a metaphor for the Countryside Alliance's plush headquarters in Kennington -
where the Chief Executive has quit after just over a year in post. Alice Barnard's resignation comes against a background of anger from a vocal cohort of members unhappy with the lack of progress
at repealing the hunting ban. Ruling out the marches which saw the Alliance hit the headlines in the late ‘90s,
Barnard's softly-softly lobbying approach has gone down like a pint of sick with hunting nutters, who accuse her of being
more interested in food labelling, high speed rail and rural broadband. Indeed, shortly after her appointment Barnard told the Indy: "I think we did marching, and we did it really
well, but ... we need to be looking at other ways at connecting both with Parliament" And it seems Barnard wants to "connect
with Parliament" in more ways than one. Despite its presence in the coalition
agreement, a free vote on the Hunting Act is unlikely to occur until 2014. Having already stood for selection in 2010, fronting a controversial and
high profile campaign could well scupper  Barnard's second attempt to grab a Tory seat. With the Alliance formed in 1997 from an amalgam of the British Field Sports Society and two other rural groups, old tensions in the countryside
movement now threaten to spill into the open. With Barnard pursuing foxes since she was nine years old, Scrapbook cannot resist speculating whether the hunter became the hunted.
Meanwhile, Horse & Hound, as you'd expect,, closes ranks and offers Alice the customary enconium
:-
H&H 17-11-11 Countryside
Alliance chief executive Alice Barnard to leave ..... Alice Barnard has today announced that she is to stand down from her position to take up a similar role at an education
charity. Mrs Barnard, who has been at the Countryside Alliance for five years — the past 14 months as chief executive
— will work for a period of notice. She said: "My five years at the Alliance have been some of the best years of
my life, and I would not leave the organisation if I didn’t feel that the opportunity that presented itself to me was
not one that I could miss out on." Kate Hoey, chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said: "The Countryside Alliance
board is very sorry to see Alice leave and we wish her well. Under her leadership, the Countryside Alliance has been reinvigorated
and resourced to continue to push the positive case for the countryside and to fight its many threats."
POWAPerson
says:- Alice is pictured above left in the 'Aah' posed image the CA would have liked everyone to buy, and above
right as the hardended fox hunter who told 'His Master's Voice' in December last year that 'Hunting is my
main passion'. Wrong answer, Alice - you should have said '... my ONLY passion'. The exact reasons
for Alice's sudden departure are unknown, but rumours of dissent have been growing for some time. Clearly, the Hunting fanatics
have become increasingly unhappy about the organisation's relatively supine position in regard to Cameron's failure to
keep his promise to allow a free vote on repeal, or provide any date for it. Whilst it has always been part of CA strategy
to broaden it's professed remit to other, less controversial, countryside issues to try to make the CA look as if it is
an organisation that represents the concerns of the mass of rural people, Alice may have taken this aspect of her mission
a bit too much to heart - and paid the price. No CA boss can afford to forget that the Alliance is really just the old
BFSS in disguise, and that it's principal, if not sole, raison d'etre is the defence and promotion of blood sports
and, especially, hunting with dogs.
LACS Communications officer sacked over expenses claims
LACS website 17-11-11 Changes at LACS
Steve Taylor, a member of staff at the League Against Cruel Sports has been dismissed for gross misconduct following a disciplinary
investigation concerning expenses claims. The disciplinary papers have been handed to the police and the Charity Commission
has been informed as the member of staff concerned has previously worked for other charities. The Charity Commission has issued
the following statement: "The charity the League Against Cruel Sports ..... has contacted the Charity Commission
to inform us of concerns in relation to financial matters within the charity. Based on the information given by the charity,
we are satisfied that the trustees of the charity are dealing with the matter appropriately and reviewing any relevant policies
and procedures in this area". The potential loss will not have a material effect upon the ability of the League to fulfil
its objectives but we do take a "zero tolerance" approach to any wrongdoing and for this reason we are co-operating
fully with the police in their investigations. We are pleased that our systems worked well in picking this matter up and we
will do everything in our power to recover the sum concerned. It would be inappropriate for the League to discuss the details
of this case or make any further comment until the police investigations are completed. Louise Robertson will take on the
role of head of campaigns and communications at the League for the time being.
Southdown/Eridge
FH supporter hurt female sab with catapulted wheelnut, say HSA
HSA Press Release 13-11-11 Another Saturday, another
day of Hunt violence The South Down and Eridge Fox Hunt has become increasingly aggressive
over the past few years. Attacking hunt saboteurs in car parks, threatening them with knives, riding them down and employing
‘stewards' to harass their every step..... On Saturday a whole new level was reached. The day started as usual with
verbal abuse, quad bikes being driven at speed near people and threats of ‘home visits'. The Sabs persisted in following
the hunt which was making little attempt to follow it's own false trail. The day started getting heated when a hunt supporter
constantly drove his vehicle in front of the sabs land rovers to impede their progress. This was followed by a number of hunt
supporters following the land rovers and driving aggressively and dangerously. Near the close of the day more threats were made and clear attempts were made to start fights,
which the sabs refused to react to. Finally the hunt had packed up and the sabs were gathered in a residential road when a
vehicle which had been following the group's vehicles drove up. A catapult was fired out of the passenger window and the
missile (a wheel nut, right ) hit a female saboteur on the elbow. The police were called and the perpetrators
were identified to them.  Arrests are expected. The injured sab who was taken to hospital for x-rays on her injured arm has nerve damage. Lee Moon,
spokesperson for the Hunt saboteurs association, said: "This is the reality behind hunting. A violent nasty pursuit practiced
by violent nasty people, who do not care as long as they can inflict some form of suffering on animals or humans. It is time
to strengthen the ban and stop these people in their tracks."
POWAPerson says:- This East Sussex-based
Hunt is neighbour to the notorious Crawley & Horsham, so, given that and their apparent past behaviour, a new mode of
violence does not come as a great surprise. It is none the less alarming. For details of an alleged savage, mob-handed attack
by their supporters on a male-female sab couple in 2009, see here. The picture left shows one of the victims receiving medical treatment afterwards.
Film released of Cotswold Vale FH in prolonged
road havoc incident
HSA Press Release 7-11-11 Chaos
in the Countryside A week after falsely blaming hunt saboteurs for the death of one of their hounds, the attached video shows the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt casually risking the lives of their hounds. They were filmed throughout the day hunting
on main roads, causing traffic chaos and at least two cars were forced to make emergency stops to avoid killing hounds. When
the saboteurs voiced their concerns about how dangerous it was they were met with physical and verbal abuse. Lee Moon, spokesperson
for the Hunt saboteurs Association, stated: "It was very convenient for the hunt that saboteurs were present last week
as it gave them an easy scapegoat for the death of their hound. This video shows conclusively that the hunts don't care
for any animal, even their hounds."
POWAPerson says:- This film certainly helps vindicate the sab denial of
the Hunt's claim that they 'lured' the hound to its death on the A38 late in October. It strongly suggests that
the Cotswold Vale are either unable or unwilling to control their dogs, and they seem pretty careless of the danger the dogs
are in or the disruption and hazards created for motorists. One rider comment suggests they were trying to take the pack across
the road. But why, if they were hunting a pre-laid trail, would they need to do this - or go anywhere near any highway, let
alone a high-speed A-road, at all? See stories "Cotswold Vale FH reported to police...." [includes
an account of what else the Hunt were doing on 1-11] and "Cotswold Vale FH in 'illegal hunt... '" below
for further info.
Local
witnesses say they clearly saw Pendle Forest & Craven Harriers hunting a hare
Lancashire Telegraph 7-11-11 'Illegal hare hunt' claims probe in Pendle
A POLICE probe has been launched after complaints were made about a hunt illegally chasing a wild hare. Officers are looking
into claims a pack of hounds followed by around 20 hunters on horseback were chasing the animal across fields between Barnoldswick
and West Marton on Saturday afternoon. The hunters, dressed in  red blazers, black jodhpurs and black safety helmets, were spotted by a number of animal lovers who said they were deeply
shocked at what happened. Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt
master Tom Bannister [left] said they had been in the area at the time but no hare had been discovered. In 2005,
the government passed the Hunting Act banning the hunting of foxes, hares, minks and deer with dogs. Anyone found guilty of
illegal hunting could face a fine of up to £5,000. However, hunts can still follow a scent while out riding, which is
commonly known as a drag hunt. Carole Mitchell, 51, of Ollet Hall Road, Darwen, was visiting her three
pet sheep in Stock Road, near Barnoldswick when she saw the hunt. She said: "It was absolutely awful. I locked myself in the car because
I just couldn't bear it. "It is so shocking to watch. There was this horrific screaming and I couldn't tell if
it was the dogs or the hare." Fellow witness Michael Martin, 62, from Barnoldswick, said: "That poor hare must have
been terrified. "I could see it running desperately for its life." Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt [right] confirmed it conducted a hunt with 20 people on horseback and 20 on
foot between Barnoldswick and West Marton on Saturday between 11am and 2.30pm. Mr Bannister said: "We were completely
within the law. "The law demands that even if the hounds were to find a hare we would have to pull them off, but we did
not find a hare on Saturday."
Female sab wounded as sabs trapped and menaced by Old Surrey FH
supporters, claims HSA
HSA Press Release 5-11-11
New Hunt season. More violence against hunt saboteurs Members of the Hunt Saboteurs Association,
from different groups in the South East, visited the meet of the Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent Fox Hunt,
taking place just outside Lingfield in East Sussex. Due to previous violence from this hunts Staff and supporters (who's
Huntsman has a conviction for assaulting a Hunt Saboteur in 1991) the police had been informed of the Hunt Saboteurs intentions,
and were in  attendance. At around 3pm saboteurs were attempting to cross a narrow metal bridge on Environment Agency land when a supporter
of the hunt took it on himself to block their passage. Other hunt supporters on foot were behind the group, and pushing forward
against their backs. In the struggle the supporter pulled a female hunt saboteur over, knocking her head onto the concrete
base, causing a deep bloody wound to the crown of her head [left and right]. Riders of the hunt, supported by the
foot followers, proceeded to barge into the other hunt saboteurs in what seemed to be an attempt to cover up the actions of
their supporter. Some saboteurs were then asked to ‘arraign it' so that the incident was not reported to the police.
It is suspected that the perpetrator has a gun licence he would be in danger of losing if convicted of violence. The incident
was reported to the Police and the man was questioned. Formal statements and video evidence will be submitted to ensure a
conviction. Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said: "This is just one
more violent incident in the history of the Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent Fox Hunt, an organisation whose reason for
existence is the infliction of violence. It seems that if they cannot persecute foxes then hunt saboteurs will do as second
choice."
The HSA says of this particular gang :-
The OSBWK hunt is renowned among sabs for the levels of violence dished out to saboteurs and is regarded as being
prominent among the more extreme elements of the hunting fraternity.
-
Hunt saboteur Steve Christmas was almost killed at a meet of the hunt on 1 Sept 2000
- Mark Bycroft, Huntsman [right] and Graeme Worsley, Master, the OSBWK hunt were fined and received penalty points after staging a pro-hunt stunt on the M25 in Dec 2002. A motorway safety officer said in court that
it "posed an extreme danger" to the public.
- Bycroft has
a history of violence and was found guilty of assault in 1991 after a saboteur was attacked. Bycroft's father, John,admitted
in a Guardian interview to "acting like the IRA" (31-8-02).
- Mark Bycroft hinted at the campaign of intimidation
when he was quoted in Horse and Hound on 16 September 2004 as saying "Every MP against hunting is on the hit list."See here for details of an alleged 2004 attack by supporters of this Hunt on sabs, in
which several were injured and one sab knocked unconscious with an iron bar. And here for an article about the attack, using a 4x4 as a weapon, that nearly killed
sab Steve Christmas in 2000. Though the CPS pulled the trial of the culprit for a dodgy-looking reason, Steve, whose life
and career were ruined, later received an £18,500 payout from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board - official acknowledgment
he had been victim of a criminal assault. Besides the assaults mentioned above, POWA has records of a further four supporters
of this Hunt having convictions for assaulting sabs or monitors.
Cotswold Vale FH reported to police as witnesses
see foxes menaced by Hunt, hound havoc on road
Facebook Post by Denise Ward, Producer 'Minority Pastime' and POWA Associate 20.25 1-11-11
Minority Pastime went out today to visit the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt, the first hunt visited and recorded
in the film. It was unbelievable. I arrived late and was grilled by a red-coated horseman as to who I was because I must be
up to no good (standing in the public road with my camera as the hounds went on cry up a field). When I caught up with the
hunt saboteurs the hunt was all over a busy main road, hounds everywhere
and vehicles screeching to a halt and then the hounds were all around a ditch by the road and the sabs were there shouting
'leave it' ' leave it'. I looked over with the sabs and just glimpsed the little fox crouching in the ditch.
The hunt gave up and moved on, and I followed the sabs. The next thing tthere was activity down a bridle path so I followed
and just saw the tail end of a large and fine fox disappearing into a drain. Luckily the sabs were there. They sat on the
drain as the hounds and the hunt came all around. I was speechless with fear that the poor animal would be found but even
though the hounds smelled around the drain the sabs stopped them and the hunt didn't seem to realise. We all stayed there
until the hunt was long gone and went away to give the fox a chance to come out. I thought this
would be it but no, not nearly. When I next caught up with them they were in a field next to a busy road and the terrier men
were racing up the field with their terriers - the hunt was blowing 'gone to ground' At this point I couldn't
stand it and called the police who said they would send a car. It seemed an age while the hunt was in the field searching
among a thick brambled hedge and I wondered what I would do if they started to dig. What would the sabs do? I had made sure
the hunters heard me calling the police and hoped it would put them off. They took no notice but after what seemed like an
age the hunt moved on. A sab told me she had seen a little fox, exhausted, quietly cross the road and get away. It hadn't
gone to ground. I though this must be the end but, no, it wasn't. I followed the sabs who drove round to the Combe Hill
Nature Reserve where two walkers were telling them that they had just seen an exhausted fox come down the tow path with hounds
behind and then hunt riders arrived asking them if they had seen the fox. They didn't tell them they had because they
didn't want to and thought hunting was horrible. So that one got away too. This, everyone,
is a typical day's 'trail hunting'. Enough is enough. This has got to stop.
Cameron's Hunt
dumps its own beleagured Huntsman
Horse & Hound 3-11-11
Charles Frampton to hunt the Heythrop THE Heythrop will be hunted by Charles
Frampton, currently senior joint-master and huntsman of the Portman. next season. His appointment follows a split at the Heythrop
over the future of current huntsman Julian Barnfield. The wrangle went public after Countryside Alliance chairman MP Kate
Hoey intervened on Mr Barnfield's behalf, writing to Heythrop chairman Mikey Elliot. An extraordinary general meeting
was held on Sunday (30 October) in Chipping Norton, and the vote as to who should hunt the pack was 207 to 163 in favour of
Mr. Frampton. Farmers had two votes and subscribers one. Mr Frampton, who will also join the mastership. told H&H:"I
am lookingforward to coming to the Heythrop next season." Two Heythrop masters declined to comment on the situation.
Mr Barnfield, who appeared in court last month accused of breaking the Hunting Act. Has hunted the Heythrop since 2005 and
was at the Cotswold before that. He said: "I'm pretty devastated. I have hunted hounds for 21 years and I don't
know what I am going to do next. It's been a bloody battle - now I have to weigh up what's best for my wife and kids.'
Mr Barnfield has been asked to stay on as kennel-huntsman but has not yet given the Masters his decision. He pleaded not guilty
to breaching the Hunting Act. when he appeared at Banbury Magistrates' Court on 25 October. The case was adjourned until
9 December.
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