Cheshire Against Blood Sports supports anti-hunt petition signed by 104k. They want to strengthen the Hunting Act after 20 years.
February 18 was the Hunting Act’s 20th anniversary. The Act started in 2004 in England and Wales. LACS released new data that day, saying it proves illegal hunting still happens often; Cheshire is one such place.
Last August, John Finnegan was prosecuted. He used to work for Cheshire Hunt. The court fined him £1,000, and he also got a criminal behavior order in Crewe. This order limits his work as a huntsman.
CABS thinks prosecutions are too rare though, saying many foxes are hunted and killed. CABS wants to close loopholes in the Hunting Act. These loopholes let hunts carry on like before.
CABS wants to ban trail hunting too, where hunts lay a scent for dogs to follow. LACS says this hides real hunting. A CABS spokesperson said foxes still get chased in Cheshire, and therefore they want a complete ban on hunting.
The spokesperson added that the Act is too weak now, with hunts exploiting the loopholes and lacking wildlife protection. Hunts admitted they would still hunt, when the Act came in. They invented trail hunting to seem legal.
CABS rarely sees trails being laid. Wildlife still dies often, and pets are being terrorized. It’s hard to prosecute under the current Act because you need video evidence of the huntsman, hounds, and fox.
You must prove the huntsman meant to kill the fox. They can claim it was an accident. CABS wants to criminalize reckless behavior, which they hope would change the number of foxes killed. CABS seeks harsher penalties for huntsmen.
They also want action against hunt committees and masters, and landowners should be prosecuted too. This is for allowing illegal hunts on their land. CABS hopes the petition raises awareness, and that it may encourage the government to act.
Chris Luffingham from LACS agrees the Act isn’t fit for purpose. Hunts claim to follow scent trails, but, LACS’s data shows they are killing foxes. They welcome a ban on trail hunting, and they want loopholes removed and stronger punishments.
Olly Hughes from the British Hounds Sports Association disagrees. He says trail hunting follows the law, and he states it’s a legal and well-regulated activity. Thousands enjoy it, complying with regulations properly.