Will 2010 see an end to the hunting ban?
30-12-2009 This Is North Devon, UK
HUNDREDS gathered across North Devon to watch the annual Boxing Day Hunts — which hunt supporters hope could be the last of their kind under the legislation which outlawed the sport. Fans of hunting are hoping a new government will repeal the Hunting Act, which came into force in 2004, banning traditional fox hunting methods.
If the Conservative Party win the general election, which has to take place before May 2010, David Cameron has said he will offer a free vote in government time for repeal of the ban.
Tod Marshman, chairman of the Torrington Farmers' Hunt, said he believed 100% of the hunt's members would like to see the ban lifted.
He said: "Because the Hunting Act is not well drafted nobody knows with great clarity where the law stands.
"Hounds follow their instincts rather than what they are told. If they smell something exciting they are away and getting them back can be very difficult.
"Although we lay trails we always worry there will be an accident and a repeal in the law would remove this worry.
"If something goes wrong you don't want to break the law, but sticking with it can be tricky when you're relying on natural instincts and elements."
Alan Briggs, of Bideford, is a member of the League Against Cruel Sports and admits the Act has "loose ends", but feels it has had an effect.
He said: "We are concerned about the possibility of the Act being repealed, but we're going to fight this as hard as we can and I hope the ban will continue.
"I just can't understand why people want to do this (hunt) and hurt animals."
But the RSPCA believes the Act, which will be five years old in February, is working well.
John Rolls, RSPCA director of Animal Welfare Promotion, said 48 people were found guilty of offences under the Hunting Act in 2007.
Mr Rolls said: "Hunting wild animals to a cruel and pointless death for sport is no longer tolerated by modern Britain — thankfully it is now an enforceable crime."
Thousands brave sub zero temperatures to support Boxing Day hunts, as campaigners call for a vote to scrap the Hunting ActJoint master of the Tynedale Hunt Frank Houghton-Brown said he hoped a new Government would overturn the hunting ban. (JournalLive for North East news. Read the latest from The Journal newspaper covering Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland all areas across the Northeast.)
Hunting's popularity has grown since the Act came into force according to local hunt meets.
Mr Marshman added: "Hunting is more popular than ever. We have had more people at the Boxing Day Hunt than we did 10 years ago.
"It is an illogical thing — the sport becomes an endangered species so everybody wants to see it."
Tony Wright, of the Exmoor Foxhounds, was the first huntsman to be prosecuted under the Act, but his conviction was overturned by the High Court earlier this year.
Boxing Day Hunts took place in Torrington and the Tetcott Hunt met in Holsworthy Square on Boxing Day and will be outside The Tree Inn in Stratton on New Year's Day.
(Bron:
http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk)(Bron foto: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1101944/Record-300-000-traditional-Boxing-Day-hunts-making-mockery-ban.html)
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