NEWLY released figures reveal the scale of fox hunting still taking place in Warwickshire and the havoc the hunts wreak on communities.
The figures, compiled by national animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports, show Warwickshire is in the top five of the worst affected counties in Britain. There were 21 reports of either suspected illegal hunting or hunt havoc in the county in just five and a half weeks between November 1 and December 7.
The figures have been released to coincide with the Boxing Day fox hunt parades, the biggest day in the hunting calendar.
The League says the figures show the negative impact hunting has on wildlife, rural communities, people’s lives and their livelihoods.
Emma Judd, head of campaigns and communications at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “People will see the hunts out today in Warwickshire and not know that behind the finery is a so-called sport that sees public lives endangered on roads, and members of the public being intimidated.
“Our figures released today evidence the negative impact hunting has on rural communities and show clearly that it is time for change. Only by strengthening the law on hunting can communities, wildlife and rural values be protected.”
The figures break down into ten reports of suspected illegal hunting despite the fox hunting ban and 11 incidences of hunt havoc involving fox hunts marauding on roads, as well as intimidating people and causing the public mental distress.
The worst offenders in the county were the Warwickshire Hunt who were featured in six incidents of suspected illegal hunting. They were seen visibly pursuing two foxes and were involved in one reported kill.
The Warwickshire Hunt was involved in 13 incidents of hunt havoc (some incidents being in other counties) including seven incidents on roads.
Earlier this month Warwickshire Police issued the hunt with a Community Protection Notice after causing danger on the roads in south Warwickshire.
The counties with the highest combined totals of suspected illegal hunting and hunt havoc were Dorset (39) Yorkshire (30), Somerset (22) Warwickshire (21) and Gloucestershire (19)
Nationally, the reports related to 71 different foxhound packs in 37 counties.
Polling commissioned by the League and conducted independently by Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus across Britain showed more than three quarters of the electorate in Warwickshire (78 per cent) were in favour of strengthening hunting laws and over half (55 per cent) more likely to vote for a candidate who supported strengthening.
Rural voters across Britain were also in favour of strengthening the Hunting Act 2004 (76 per cent) with 54 per cent more likely to vote for a candidate who supported strengthening.
Emma added: “The bloodthirsty and shameful ‘sport’ of fox hunting is massively unpopular with the Warwickshire electorate who want to see hunting laws strengthened, and it’s time government came on board with public opinion.”
