The fight for and against the Hunting Act gathers momentum
December 27, 2007
Supporters of Boxing Day hunts assembled in a show of strength on the day, traditionally the busiest one in the hunting calendar. Pro-hunting activists claimed the mass sentiment was clearly against the Hunting Act that supposedly marked the end of hunting with hounds.
Over 250,000 people took part in Britain’s 314 meets to voice their opposition, they pointed out in support of their claim. According the Countryside Alliance, their show of strength proved irrelevance of the ban. Its spokeswoman, Jill Grieve, argued the Act had only increased the curiosity about hunting with hounds. She added many people who didn’t know or bother about hunting previously thought of checking what the fuss was about after the Act brought it into spotlight.
Around 3,000 people were said to have joined the Duke of Beaufort’s hunt in Gloucestershire. Princes Charles, William and Harry had been there in the past. They skipped the hunt this year. A reported 2,300 people thronged Winslow, Buckinghamshire at the Bicester hunt. Hunt masters were happy to see such enthusiastic support from the countryside and also from the towns. According to them, most people now harbour a live & let live attitude, so they don’t like prejudiced laws against hunting. However, animal welfare campaigners disputed such arguments and also the level of support to anti-ban movement.
Organisations like the League Against Cruel Sports are monitoring the hunts carefully to gather high-quality evidence against anyone flouting the law so that the police can prosecute them. Dogs can still be employed for following a scent but cannot be used for killing the fox.
Huntsman Tony Wright successfully appealed at Exeter crown court last month after the League Against Cruel Sports had initiated a private prosecution against him. He became the first ever huntsman to be convicted of breaching the Act for hunting a wild animal with dogs, but won an appeal against his conviction. The legal battle for and against hunting is getting more intense…
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