Labour must act on England and Wales’s dire fox hunting laws as cruelty increases

A massive increase in suspected illegal incidents during the last fox hunting season has been reported to national animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports. Campaigners say the scale of suspected law-breaking highlights yet again how important it is for political parties to commit to strengthen laws during the general election – specifically the Labour Party.

Fox hunting: toffs on the rampage

The new figures, released on Thursday 13 June, show both reports related to suspected illegal hunting as well as the havoc fox hunts wreaked on rural communities across England and Wales.

Nearly 1,400 incidents, comprising 526 reports of suspected illegal hunting and 870 reports of hunt havoc, were recorded in the League’s end of season report covering November 2023 to March 2024.

It is a huge increase on the 982 incidents recorded during the same period the season before.

Emma Judd, the League’s head of campaigns, said:

What these figures show is that hunts are unashamedly ignoring the law. Where they are seen chasing or killing foxes, or even being in places like major roads, railways, or private property where pre-laid trails simply can’t be, it’s clear only stronger laws will deter the hunts, or at least allow the police to properly enforce it.

It’s time for change. Pressure is building for all political parties to include a manifesto commitment to strengthen fox hunting laws and for the next government to consign old fashioned fox hunting to history where it belongs.

Why Labour must act

The reports comprised of 417 incidents in which a fox was seen being chased by a meet, alongside other incidents including the involvement of terrier men digging up the animals that had bolted underground.

The hunt havoc incidents included hunts running amok on roads; trespassing on private land and railway lines; chasing livestock and people’s pets; chasing other wildlife such as deer; damaging badger setts to prevent foxes fleeing underground; horses and hounds being mistreated; threatening and irresponsible behaviour; and members of the public being caused mental distress.

The figures are collated by the League from reports into the League’s Animal Crimewatch service and other monitors:

• There were 549 separate fox hunt meets at which suspected illegal activity or hunt havoc took place, across 46 different counties and involving 107 fox hunts.
• The counties with highest number of incidents were Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Yorkshire.

The worst offender in England and Wales is the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt which was briefly suspended this season by fox hunting’s governing body after being caught on camera and exposed on Channel 4 News for killing a fox.

The Warwickshire meet, which is reported to have struck a secret police deal, is also in the top five worst offending ones and was filmed killing a fox earlier this season.

Fox hunting laws must be strengthened

Emma Judd added:

This is both an animal welfare issue and one impacting on law and order so it’s time for all politicians to listen to our concerns and act by pushing for stronger laws which crack down on the hunts appalling behaviour.

We are calling for political parties to commit to strengthening the law by closing its loopholes, banning ‘trail’ hunting, and introducing custodial sentences for those convicted of illegal hunting.

Featured image via the League Against Cruel Sports