26.12.03: POWA delivers Boxing Day present to Prime Minister
21.01.03: Bicester Hunt trespasses on Ministry of Defence restricted land

Click here for 2002 POWA archive releases (headlines noted directly below)

19.11.02: POWA calls on Government to act over Real CA
17.05.02: POWA tells Government 'no exceptions to hunt ban'

05.04.02: Hunt supporter convicted for assault on POWA monitor
24.03.02: New Forest hounds kill pregnant vixen and unborn cubs

15.02.02: Heythrop foxhounds chase fallow deer
13.02.02: POWA congratulates Scotland
13.02.02: New Forest Animal Protection Group call on Forestry Commission
12.02.02: Vale of Aylesbury hounds invade village

 

NEW FOREST ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUP NEWS RELEASE : 2 OCTOBER 2004

02.10.04: Wildlife reserve violated by New Forest hounds

The peace of a wildlife reserve near Linwood in the New Forest was violated today when hunting dogs of the New Forest Hounds, who were in the area hunting young foxes, trespassed in full cry into the wood. They hunted around the reserve for several minutes while hunt officials tried to call the hounds out, with little effect. NFAPG observers filmed and photographed the hounds as they roamed at will through wetlands and across fox earth and badger sett before running on to neighbouring farm land. A hunt foot follower also trespassed with his dogs on to the land but left when asked to do so.

Frankie James of NFAPG who filmed the incident said, 'It was horrible to see the hounds hunting through this special place. Wildlife has always been protected here. The late owner left her property to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust in the hope that they would continue to protect it as she had done. This incursion is a betrayal of her and all the work her family put in to making this woodland a safe haven. I hope the Wildlife Trust will deal firmly with the hunt over this. I am a member and have already contacted them about it. We shall also be writing yet again to the Forestry Commission about the hounds being out of the control of the huntsman. I don't see how the hunt can claim they had good hound control today.' /ENDS

15.09.04: POWA welcomes ban and condemns pro hunt violence

Protect Our Wild Animals have joyfully welcomed the banning of hunting with dogs, though greatly regretting that implementation is to be so long delayed - meaning that tens of thousands more animals will be condemned to terror and death at hunters' hands.

Spokesman, Alan Kirby said: 'At long last, democracy has triumphed and this vicious 'sport' has been outlawed. We thank the many campaigners who have worked so hard for this end over decades, some regularly risking life and limb to collect evidence or to try to save the hunted animals from their persecutors. We must also thank the many MPs from all parties who have refused to be deflected over years of governmental shilly-shallying.'

POWA also condemned the invasion of the Commons chamber and the violence of some pro-hunt protesters, but warned that extremist elements are out of control and pose a very serious danger.  

Alan Kirby added: 'We who have opposed them in the hunting fields have been trying to get across for years what these self-styled law-abiding people are really like, cautioning that they would turn really nasty once the chips were down, and we saw just a flash of it on Wednesday. But much of the media have long swallowed their deceitful and self-serving PR and the government has sought to treat them as though they were decent people who could be reasoned with. The hunters' true nature will be revealed even more in the months to come. It will not be pretty and there will be mayhem in places. But what would you expect of people who are overpoweringly attracted by the violence inherent in chasing and killing animals and who feel righteous in threatening to break the law in order to carry on doing it?'.

POWA called upon what moderate leaders there might remain among the hunters to disown and isolate the hotheads and to stick to peaceful, non-disruptive protest and normal political means.

Alan Kirby concluded: 'The Conservative party has, after all, committed to repeal the ban if they ever return to office, though it seems that both they and the hunters have still not grasped quite how unpopular hunting with dogs is among the general public . In our view the Tory pledge 'We will bring back hunting' might qualify as the one of the shortest suicide notes in history!'. /ENDS

NEW FOREST ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUP NEWS RELEASE : 7 SEPTEMBER 2004

07.09.04: Campaigners call for ban after filming gruesome death of fox cub

The New Forest Animal Protection Group (NFAPG) is renewing its call for the government to bring back the bill to ban hunting with dogs following the gruesome killing of a fox cub by the New Forest Hounds near Rhinefield House Hotel, Brockenhurst, Hants, early this morning (7.9.04).   Following the kill the hounds were encouraged to tear at the small body in what appears to be a frenzy whipped up by the hunters with guttural cries.

Peter White, IFAW hunt monitor, filmed the scene, he said afterwards: 'I have filmed so many incidents like this but you never get used to it. The little fox didn't stand a chance, he was in thick undergrowth and when he ran out and saw the field riders shouting and hollering he turned back into the hounds. It seems hard he had to die when we are so near to a ban. The hounds were encouraged to rag the body as some of them are young and need to be taught to be savage with the fox.'

During another chase Peter filmed a rider apparently heading a fox off with his horse and using the whip to divert it. The NFAPG are querying the justification of this tactic and the fact that earlier the hounds had repeatedly trespassed on private land round Rhinefield House Hotel.

Ken James, chairman NFAPG, said: 'We filmed the hounds on the private land when most people would be just getting up. It must have been an unpleasant awakening for some of them. Before that the hounds had been out of control for some time on the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive. We shall be informing the Forestry Commission who licence the hunt but I doubt that they will take any action. This government must bring back the bill to ban this disruptive, unnecessary and barbarous activity now. It is many years overdue.'/ENDS

For images click here

Information sheet with NFAPG news release 7 September 2004

Cub Hunting (Autumn Hunting)

In late summer, as the families of foxes are completing the rearing of the cubs, young hounds together with more experienced companions are taken out in the very early morning or in the evening to learn the art of hunting foxes as a pack. This unnatural activity has to be taught because the fox, a member of the same family as domestic dogs, is not a natural prey animal and dogs do not normally hunt other dogs to death.

An area where a fox family is known to live, often a small wood, is surrounded by people who are either on foot, horseback or wheeled vehicles. Hounds are sent in to scent the foxes out. As the foxes try to flee the people make a loud noise and drive the foxes back to the hounds. This is called holding up. The growing cubs are no match for the hounds and make easy meat. Those that escape to ground are dug out and killed and sometimes several cubs are discovered in one earth so whole families can be wiped out. Cubs that survive have learnt the fear necessary to make for a good hunt later in the season. The young hounds have learnt the taste of fox blood. Foxes are born between February and April. Cub hunting can start as early as July and continues until October when fox hunting proper begins. Fox hunting continues till March, April or even May.

In the New Forest the Foxhounds hunt under licence from the Forestry Commission. The cub hunting season does not start till September and holding up is not allowed. However lining out is allowed which is when a fox is prevented from running in a particular direction for a specific reason. Also, the digging out of foxes is not allowed on Forestry Commission land although entrance holes can be blocked prior to a hunt to prevent a fox escaping below ground. The fox hunt season ends in March in the New Forest. F James / 7-9-04

04.04.04: POWA challenges claims of spiralling lamb deaths

Following the wave of revulsion caused by film recently captured by League Against Cruel Sports undercover investigators of the Plas Machynlleth gun pack's barbaric practices, Protect Our Wild Animals is challenging Welsh farmers to provide credible evidence of their astonishing claims that the suspension of the hunt has resulted in "spiralling" losses of lambs to foxes.

POWA believes that these outlandish claims are completely unfounded and designed to elicit sympathy following the revelation of the hunt's vicious practices, their disgust with which is only enhanced by the unsurprising whitewash given to the hunt by the Federation of Welsh Gun Packs.

All reputable research has shown that lamb losses to foxes are negligible. Whilst stillborn lambs, the many that die of neglect or disease, and afterbirth are likely to be scavenged by foxes, there is no indisputable evidence that foxes take live, healthy lambs. Even scientists who believe foxes may take some live ones insist this only represents an extremely tiny proportion of overall losses, the vast majority of which are known to be due to other factors, including poor husbandry.

Whilst anti-hunt monitors have produced over the years miles of video footage illustrating the extreme cruelty of hunting with dogs - much of which is deemed by TV companies as too horrific to broadcast - there has never been any corresponding film produced to back claims that foxes routinely predate live lambs.

Relatively cheap night-sight cameras have been available for some years, yet the Countryside Alliance, with its vast resources, has yet to produce any footage of foxes killing lambs. POWA therefore challenges the Alliance to put up or shut up - and cease their attempts to pull the wool over the public's eyes.

If hunting farmers choose to scapegoat foxes in an attempt to justify their brutal sport, they must wake up to the fact that their lack of evidence makes them the subject of derision and contempt.

POWA congratulates the League Against Cruel Sports for successfully exposing the true nature of the upland gun packs.

POWA spokesperson Alan Kirby said: 'The Government cannot ignore this evidence. What was truly shocking was that the savage cruelty filmed by the League is currently legal. Pressure is mounting inexorably for the Hunting Bill to be brought back to Parliament immediately - the public will not forgive Tony Blair if he ignores the democratic process and lets hunters carry on with their disgusting 'sport'.'
/ENDS

10.03.04: Warwickshire Hunt hounds rampage in Broughton - villagers infuriated

On Wednesday, 10th March, the Warwickshire Hunt caused anger and distress to residents when they invaded the village of Broughton, near Banbury, whilst in pursuit of a fox.

Villagers were shocked and infuriated as the hunt invaded the village at 2.00 pm, having chased a fox into the village from land around Broughton Grange. Hounds ran around village gardens, trampling flowers and damaging property. They broke a fence and ran in and out of sheds and flowerbeds. One lady was reduced to tears after she saw her cat run in terror from the uncontrolled dogs. The hounds also ran amongst the traffic on the B4035, and mounted hunters also caused obstruction and inconvenience to motorists. The hunt terrierman drove his quad bike along the road and the pavement, adding to the scene of chaos.
(click here for images)

POWA monitors caught most of the incident on camera. Villagers spoke to the monitors about their disgust and anger at the hunt's behaviour.

POWA spokesperson Penny Little said: 'This situation is becoming intolerable. It would seem that the Government's continued failure to ban hunting has convinced the foxhunters that they are completely untouchable. They ride roughshod over everyone in their insane determination to pursue foxes wherever they run. The very idea that a group of callous individuals can spend a day forcing foxes to run for their lives so that they can rampage after them is so grotesque that you really have to pinch yourself to check it's not just a horrible nightmare. Why should these hunters get away with acting like hooligans and idiots in pursuit of a bloodsport that most people think should be against the law?'

Note: excellent video film and video stills available from POWA
/ENDS

04.03.04: Heythrop Hunt continues to cause danger on roads

More chaos just two weeks after hound is hit by car

On Wednesday 3 March (exactly two weeks after a hound belonging to the Heythrop Hunt was struck by a car on the A429), the Heythrop's pack invaded the A44 near Cornwell whilst chasing a fox.

The hunt met at Cornwell Manor at 10.45am, and were soon chasing a fox in land between Cornwell and the A44.  At 11.30am, the whole pack of hounds ran onto the A44. While some hounds then ran into the field on the opposite side of the road, several hounds continued to run along the road and between the traffic. Two green coated hunt officials on horseback were also on the road.  This incident occurred on a stretch of the road which has double white lines down the middle.  POWA monitors captured the incident on film.

After the incident, which caused traffic to brake to avoid hitting the hounds, and which resulted in both carriageways being obstructed for several minutes, the hounds were taken into a wood within a short distance of the road.   At 11.50am a POWA monitor filmed a muntjac deer, which had been frightened into flight by the hounds, running across the A44, narrowly missing being struck by a car which managed to brake in time.  Thus in the space of 20 minutes the hunt twice caused danger to motorists using the A44.

POWA spokesperson Penny Little said: 'The Heythrop Hunt should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for once again putting both their own hounds, and motorists, into jeopardy.  Why on earth should motorists be endangered and inconvenienced by a bunch of people who are pursuing a bloodsport?  

'Two weeks ago the pack ran straight into the A429 near Stow, and a hound was hit by a car, but the hunt's attitude has not changed one jot. It seems they ride roughshod over everyone else - their actions are barbaric and extremely anti-social.'

Note: film or video stills available from POWA
/ENDS

18.02.04: Heythrop Hunt causes accident on A429 shocking incident caught on film

POWA monitors capture shocking accident on film

At 3.30pm on Wednesday 18th February the Heythrop Hunt completely lost control of its pack of hounds, which ran straight out onto the A429, causing an accident in which a car collided heavily with a hound.

The hunt had found a fox just outside the village of Broadwell near Stow on the Wold.  The baying hounds chased the fox across the fields in the direction of the A429 Fosse Way, leaving the mounted field well behind.

Totally unsupervised, the hounds ran out onto the busy road.  One hound was struck by a car. The impact caused the animal to scream in pain and sent it somersaulting along the road.

POWA hunt monitors captured the horrifying incident on film.  As a hunt official arrived on the scene, the distressed motorist who struck the hound can be heard on film as she calls out to him about the accident. Astonishingly, he does not even stop, but merely calls 'Sorry madam'.

The woman's anger and distress are obvious.  The same huntsman's response to the POWA monitor who is urgently trying to alert him to the fact that a hound has been hit is 'Shut up, you'.  A few moments later the hound, who is by now looking dazed and near to collapse, is picked up unceremoniously by a burly hunt supporter, and placed in the back of a Land Rover.  He shouts obscenities to the POWA monitor filming the scene. POWA will be sending copies of their film to the police and the RSPCA.

POWA spokesperson Penny Little, who was one of the monitors who filmed the incident, said: 'We were deeply shocked by this incident, yet another in a long catalogue of chaos and havoc.  It is a miracle no motorists were injured as there could easily have been a pile-up. The hunt are an absolute disgrace, and are not fit to be in charge of any animals. We think the police and the RSPCA will want to investigate the hunt's behaviour in respect of this incident. The film will be sent to the Government and we hope it hastens the completion of the bill to ban this horrible bloodsport once and for all'.

Note to editors: 2 years ago almost to the day POWA filmed a Hethrop hound being  hit by a car on the A44 at Enstone. Most recent in the catalogue of Heythrop chaos is 24 Jan this year, when hounds ran through Chadlington, causing annoyance and distress to village residents. /ENDS

25.01.04: Heythrop Hunt in trespass 'Hat Trick'

A couple from Broadwell near Stow-on-the-Wold are stunned after hounds from the Heythrop hunt have trespassed on their property for the third time in three months.

Despite the first two incidents of trespass on 5th November and 13th December which prompted public assurances from the hunt that they would make every effort to keep away, the Heythrop arranged a meet in the village of Broadwell itself on Wed 21st January, just a few hundred yards from the Hemming's home.

In less than an hour of the hunt meeting, hounds were once again running amok in Mr & Mrs Hemming's gardens and paddock.

Mrs Hemming said: 'It was bedlam with almost the entire pack running about in the grounds for three or four minutes before anyone from the hunt even noticed. When they eventually tried to call them back, the hounds ignored them and more chaos ensued.' She added: 'What more can we do? They make a public pledge to keep away and then they meet within yards of our doorstep and allow their hounds to run amok for the third time. They are a disgrace'. (video footage of this incident is available from Mr & Mrs Hemming).

Linda Graham of the Cotswold Support Group for the Abolition of Hunting said: 'This trespass 'hat trick' is atrocious but intrusion by hounds is not unusual. Other recent incidents include a cattery invaded by hounds in Ledbury, an animal sanctuary invaded by hounds in Wiltshire, a pet cat killed by hounds in Somerset and a man attacked by hounds in Cheshire. The hunts' governing bodies seem incapable of preventing such anti-social behaviour so the hunts carry on as they please. A total ban cannot come soon enough'. /ENDS

24.01.04: Angry village residents condemn rampage in Chadlington

On Saturday 24th January, hounds from the Heythrop Hunt chased a fox into the village of Chadlington, near Chipping Norton. The hounds ran through gardens, jumped over walls and caused cars to brake as they careered across the road. The incident was captured on film by monitors from Protect Our Wild Animals.

The hunt had met at Enstone at 10.45am. Around 2.30pm hunt monitors from Protect Our Wild Animals filmed the hunt searching for foxes in land close to the village. One fox ran from cover and the hounds were noisily encouraged to chase it. Villagers heard hounds screaming and baying as they chased the fox towards the village, and one resident, Mr Dix, watched the fox run along a footpath and into the village itself. Village residents watched helplessly as uncontrolled hounds charged through their gardens. Some residents feared for the safety of their pets.

POWA hunt monitors were on the scene and filmed the hounds as they ran around the gardens, and also filmed a green coated hunt whipper-in running around and shouting at the hounds. They spoke to residents who expressed their anger and disgust at the behaviour of the hunt, and their lack of control over the pack.

POWA spokesperson Penny Little said: 'Over and over again we witness scenes of chaos as hunts totally lose control of their hounds. It is extremely predictable that hunting close to a village can cause chaos if the unfortunate fox happens to run into the village whilst trying to escape from the pack, but hunts appear to make no attempt whatsoever to curtail their activities. They appear to have no consideration for others, and think of nothing but the pursuit of their cruel bloodsport. It is anti-social and absolutely unforgiveable. The only good thing to report from this incident is that the fox did manage to escape the hounds'. /ENDS

22.01.04: POWA details spate of hunt havoc incidents

Protect Our Wild Animals (POWA) has reacted to an outbreak of New Year mayhem by hunts around the country by calling on the Government to return the Hunting Bill to the House of Commons.

Spokesman Alan Kirby said: 'There has been a recent surge of incidents of violence, intimidation, pet killing, criminal trespass, rioting hounds and endangerment on road and rail by hunts. No other social group is permitted to engage in such wanton and repeated acts of seriously antisocial behaviour without significant sanction. Yet hunts continue to be allowed to create danger, disruption and distress apparently as they please, whilst hypocritically claiming to be decent, law-abiding citizens.'

POWA says the recent spate of hunt havoc incidents include:-

A middle-aged Somerset man who was hit twice on the head with a metal tipped staff by a follower of the Mendip Farmers hunt. The offender was cautioned.

A pet cat was killed in a garden on Christmas Eve, in front of the traumatised 7 and 3 year old daughters of the owners, by hounds from the West Somerset Vale hunt.

Two female protesters at the meet of the Cheshire Forest hunt on Boxing Day complained to the police over an assault and threats by hunt supporters.

A hunt monitor in West Sussex was ridden down and sustained serious injuries. A rider from the Crawley & Horsham hunt was arrested.

A house and garden were invaded by the Cheshire Foxhounds pack, terrifying the owner's children and pets. The owner was flattened and bitten by hounds as he tried to get them off his property.

A Worcestershire cattery was invaded, for the second time, by hounds from the Ledbury hunt.

A Badsworth hunt supporter exposed himself to protesters - and the Guardian reporter - at their Boxing Day meet.

Riders from the Bicester & Whaddon Chase trespassed on an active rail line. Filmed by hunt monitors and reported to Network Rail.

Numerous reports have appeared of danger to road users caused by hounds running amok on roads.  

Mr.Kirby added: 'These incidents are typical of what happens regularly every hunting season nationwide, mostly unreported. We have many hundreds on file and hunts are rarely brought to account. Besides the wilful infliction of cruelty and death on wild animals, hunts bring fear and misery to countless rural residents. Six years of disgraceful shilly-shallying by the Labour leadership has allowed the slaughter and mayhem to continue. We demand that the total ban on hunting wild animals with dogs, voted for overwhelmingly by MPs, be enacted as soon as possible.'/ENDS

 

07.01.04: POWA challenges Boxing Day numbers

Anti-bloodsports group Protect Our Wild Animals [POWA] believes that the Countryside Alliance has grossly overstated the number of hunt supporters attending Boxing Day Meets, in a further attempt to delude the public and decision-makers as to the strength of support for hunting.

Spokesman Alan Kirby said 'The figure of 275,000 claimed and widely reported as fact simply cannot be supported by independent reports from local newspapers. Analysing these*, we reckon the true figure of actual supporters was at most 100,000.'

POWA cites a number of serious anomalies between the numbers claimed by the Alliance and independent reports. These include: a CA claim of '5,000' at the Beaufort, where the Western Daily Press quotes hunters present saying 2,000; 1,750 at the Croome, when the Evesham Journal said 600; 'over 1,000' at the Badsworth, though the Guardian reporter saw only 300; and 'over 1,500' at the Worcestershire, though the local paper said hunters and protesters together numbered just 'hundreds'.

The Countryside Alliance claimed there were 350 Boxing Day meets, but their own Campaign for Hunting website states that there are less than 300 fox, deer and hare hunts in England and Wales.

Mr.Kirby added: 'Hare hunts attract few supporters, even on Boxing Day: the largest attested attendance at one we could find was 300. Allowing for this, the fox hunts would have had to average over 1,500 each. But we can find hardly any independent reports of such crowds. The British Field Sports Society was castigated by the Advertising Standards Authority in 1993 for making wildly inflated claims about Boxing Day attendances. The Alliance's claim is less grandiose, but still seems wildly excessive.' 

POWA points out that the Alliance's own Northern Region spokesman estimated 15,000 from 34 meets in his area - an average of only 450**.

POWA also believes that the presentation of recent poll, whose results the Alliance used to claim that only 2% of the public think hunting should be a priority for the Government, is further evidence of deceitful propaganda by them. Of this, Mr.Kirby said: 

'What the poll actually asked was what should be the Government's top priority. Even we wouldn't reply 'banning hunting' to that!   But the latest scientific poll shows at least 69% want all hunting banned*** and it will require only a little more parliamentary time to effect that. Within a few years of it becoming illegal, everyone will be wondering how and why a such a barbarous 'sport' was allowed to continue for so long.'/ENDS

** James Bates, quoted in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 27-12-03

*** MORI poll for the Campaign for the Protection of the Hunted Animal, November 2003. 69% thought fox hunting, 78% hare hunting and 81% deer hunting should not be legal.

 

26.12.03: POWA delivers Boxing Day present to Prime Minister

Protect Our Wild Animals delivered a Christmas present to Prime Minister Tony Blair at Chequers on Boxing Day morning.

Anger and frustration at the Prime Minister's sabotaging of all attempts to ban hunting have now reached a peak following the Queen's Speech in November, in which no mention was made of the Hunting Bill.  This needs to be reintroduced in this session of Parliament in order for the Parliament Act to be used to overcome opposition in the House of Lords.

Despite promises made in both manifestos, and having a huge majority for nearly 7 years, Labour has failed so far to ban the cruel sport.  POWA believes this is due to the personal intervention of Tony Blair, who has repeatedly used delays such as time-wasting hearings, compromise bills and excuses about Parliamentary time in order to frustrate the overwhelming wish of the House of Commons to ban hunting outright.

In fact so helpful has Mr Blair been to the hunters' cause that POWA have decided to give him a top hat, hunting crop and his very own badge bearing the words 'Master of the Chequers Poodlehounds'.  They hope he gets the message loud and clear that he has been such a friend to them, he might as well join them. Mr Blair will also receive a videotape showing the Huntsman of the Bicester Hunt, Patrick Martin, gloating about Mr Blair having put the anti-hunters 'in their place' - this was filmed by a POWA hunt monitor who was subjected to the comments at a recent hunt.  This footage should make the Prime Minister thoroughly ashamed.

POWA spokesperson Penny Little said: 'We've had enough of Tony Blair trying to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.  He must know that the electorate will feel so betrayed if another election comes around without a ban on hunting in place that he will lose many thousands of votes.  

'It's not too late - he can still redeem himself if he gets on and reintroduces the Hunting Bill in the New Year, thus allowing the Parliament Act to come into effect to deal with the Lords.  He must decide - and soon - whether the wishes of the public and the House of Commons matter more to him than the hunters and their powerful friends. We are watching and we are waiting.' / ENDS

 

21.01.03: Bicester Hunt trespasses on Ministry of Defence restricted land

On Thursday, 16 January, POWA hunt monitors filmed the Bicester Hunt trespassing on land belong to the Ministry of Defence at Piddington.

During the afternoon, hounds chased a fox towards the Bicester Garrison at Piddington. No apparent effort was made by the hunt to control the hounds.

POWA monitors placed themselves outside the gates to the MOD land, and filmed not only the entire pack running in full cry but also two red coated hunt officials and several mounted followers within the restricted land, which is clearly marked and displays warning notices that the land may not be entered. The hunt later left the land by pushing through a hedge.

POWA immediately reported the trespass to the police, who passed in to MOD police at the Bicester Garrison. Hunting is only allowed on MOD land under specific licence. Restrictions otherwise apply as much to hunts as to any other members of the public.

We have received confirmation from the MOD that the hunt are NOT allowed on the land. (This is the second known trespass by the Bicester Hunt onto private land in Piddington this season. On Friday 18th October 2002, the whole hunt trespassed in Piddington Wood, a nature reserve owned by the Woodland Trust. The Trust wrote to the Hunt and later wrote to POWA thanking us for our evidence.)

POWA spokesperson Penny Little said "We can only wonder how many trespasses by the hunt go unobserved and unreported. At this time of increased anxiety about security, we will be amazed if the MOD do not take action on what was a clear case of criminal trespass on restricted land. The irony is that these hunters would react with absolute fury if anyone trespassed on their land!"/ENDS

Archive releases 2002