Hunters may find alternative ways to continue killing foxes, deer, and hares even if trail-hunting is banned, a recent report warns. The report, titled ‘Broken Law – How the Hunting Act has Failed’, highlights concerns that the current Hunting Act can be easily exploited, resulting in insufficient protection for wildlife.
As the 20th anniversary of the Hunting Act approaches, activists are urging for more stringent measures to be put in place to prevent hunts from harming animals. Despite Labour’s commitment to ending trail hunting, which involves following a scent trail without harming animals, concerns remain about the effectiveness of the legislation.
Activists from Action Against Foxhunting have put forward 23 recommendations to strengthen the law, including prohibiting hounds from private property without permission from landowners. The report has been shared with the environment secretary, Steve Reed, MPs, and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
The report draws on 25 cases where a fox, stag, mink, or hare was chased or killed by hunts. Out of these cases, 11 were dropped by the authorities, and 12 resulted in prosecutions with not guilty verdicts. One of the key challenges highlighted is the difficulty in proving intent to hunt beyond reasonable doubt, making it challenging to secure convictions.
The report recounts specific incidents where hunts allegedly targeted wild mammals, leading to gruesome outcomes. Recommendations in the report include stricter regulations on hunting practices, training hounds not to pursue wild mammals, and holding hunts responsible for the actions of their hounds.
Campaigners emphasise that merely banning trail-hunting may not suffice, as the existing loopholes in the law could still be exploited by hunters. The aim is to bring about lasting change and ensure the protection of wildlife in the countryside.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been approached for comment on the report’s recommendations. With mounting pressure from activists and advocates for animal welfare, the call for more robust measures to safeguard wildlife from hunting continues to gain traction.