Focussing on Britain's only criminal fraternity that can call the police for assistance in committing a crime.
 
   
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Foxhuntwatchdog Mission

To discover, record and act on fox hunting offences committed contrary to the 2004 Hunting Act

Introduction

 

For many years there has been a growing abhorrence of animal cruelty. The growth of information technology and continuously improving education levels are two factors bringing awareness of depraved practices to wider public view. Being born and raised on a farm, I was introduced to foxhunting at an early age. My hatred of the practice started at that moment. Although more than 80% of the British public are opposed to fox hunting, enforcement of the law is half-hearted and it is hoped to generate sufficient impetus in this central core to drive towards change.  Sadly at present, the 83%+ is a massive but fragmented majority that needs consolidating into a coherent force for change.

 

Spurious Justification

 

Proponents of fox hunting cite two reasons in justification. The first is that it is necessary to destroy vermin, the fox, and that the only way this can be done is by riders on horseback accompanied by a pack of dogs. A child of primary school age could counter that argument. Like many predators, foxes will hunt for food and when afforded an easy opportunity will kill to recover later to store for when stocks are less plentiful. However, properly protected stock is at little risk. Moreover, in many areas foxes are in such short supply that they are bred and reared by the Hunt, or imported from other areas in order to guarantee a quarry. Cases are frequent and well documented.  The second most frequently cited reason is that foxhunting is a traditional country sport. Sport it has never been, the designation being adopted in an attempt to justify what is undeniably a cruel and barbaric act. Sport is defined as: “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment” The objective of fox hunting is simple. It is to discover and pursue a fox(es) with a pack of hounds and to end the fox’s life by permitting the hounds to compete to tear the live animal limb from limb. To people of conscience this is an example of medieval barbarism.  The description ‘sport’ is not justified in any way. As civilisation progresses so does human behaviour. Bear Baiting was once acceptable and the very people that support fox hunting would be appalled at any suggestion that Bear Baiting should be restored.

 

The Real Reason for Fox Hunting

 

Fox Hunting is singularly a social activity. It is maintained for no other reason. Those who are not familiar with rural life will not appreciate the importance of the Hunt in the social structure. To be Master of the Hunt or The Master’s Lady is an extreme social aspiration. Below this exists a hierarchy of masters and servants all aspiring to climb the ladder to the top. Without the hunt, many have absolutely no social status in their rural society.

 

The Public Perspective

 

Hunting with dogs is strongly opposed by more than 80% of British voters, even those who live in rural communities and by almost 70% of admitted Tory voters. Thus the claim by many that it is politically driven is largely untrue. What is true is that the Tory party is largely committed to the practice because they receive financial support from many who make up the fox hunting community. However, there is a small group of Conservative MPs, numbering 26, who stand firmly against fox hunting. They are very valuable in the fight against repeal of legislation banning the depraved practice. The SNP will vote against any attempt to repeal the 2004 Act. In Scotland, hunting is a money earner and important to the rural economy and they are firmly behind survival of all forms of hunting. However, in the Commons they will vote against the government.

 

The Law and it’s non-enforcment

 

The Hunting Act 2004, covered here, effectively bans fox hunting and, inter alia, makes it a criminal offence to hunt foxes with packs of dogs. It is not a well-written piece of legislation and contains small loopholes that are used to circumvent the law. However, one of the major problems is the lack of enthusiasm for enforcement by the majority of Police Forces, the CPS and other agencies charged with maintaining the Rule of Law. Quite properly, the majority of these bodies will rigorously enforce the law when the offences reported involve Dog Fighting and Hare Coursing, but will at the same time totally ignore law breaking involving illegal Fox Hunting.  Given that the three offences all have the same objective, viz. the destruction of a live animal by one or more other animals, there can be no claim that they are ‘different’ types of offence.  The only other factor separating one offence from another is the social class of the offender. Those involved in Hare Coursing and Dog Fighting are perceived to be of a lower class than those involved in Fox Hunting! Is it that simple?  Not really!  Those responsible for ensuring the enforcement of the law: CPS Officials, Magistrates, Police and Crime Commissioners, Chief Constables and the Senior Staff, Senior Administrators of Charities permitting hunting on their land, frequently move in the same social circles as the offenders. Moreover, as with other groups of offenders, movements like the Freemasons influence proper administration of the law. Social Corruption is probably the best description.

 

The Way Ahead

 

Public opinion should be sufficient to ensure not only that the existing legislation remains in place, but that it is properly enforced. However, the Conservative Party aspiration to satisfy, for financial gain, the will of the small minority of supporters of animal cruelty is both reprehensible and disingenuous.  To compound matters, the current lack of a credible parliamentary opposition means that for as long as this situation pertains there will exist a danger of repeal.  The best way to counter this threat is for people of conscience, the 83%, to support a consolidated effort to oppose repeal.  The best weapon is probably by parliamentary petition. To date all petitions with this aim have been fragmented and have lacked an assurance of massive and swift support on launch. At present social media and particularly Facebook seems to offer the only real opportunity of meeting the objective. It is hoped that foxhuntwatchdog.org might have a chance where other efforts have failed. If you agree, please like us on Facebook and tell your friends. Let's get started!

 

Revealing Anecdotes

The following anecdotes are true in every detail and matters of personal knowledge.

The Hunt Ball

If anyone ever doubted to importance of Fox Hunting in the social calendar of a rural community, this true story illustrates the point.

 

In the 1970s I was responsible for a large RAF facility where the local hunt traditionally rented space in the officers' mess as the venue for the hunt ball. At the time of my arrival the annual ball was just a couple of weeks away and because they had already been invoiced and paid, there was little I could do to cancel their access. The facilities hired included a rather splendid dining hall where dinner would be served, complemented by a lecture hall, fitted with a large stage with full lighting, that was frequently used as a ballroom.

 

Just a couple of days before the event I was approached by a member of my staff who told me that the hunt committee had asked for another stage to be erected at the opposite end of the lecture hall from the main stage. I telephoned the person concerned and explained that we already had a large stage with proper footlights that was also fitted with the electrics necessary to the modern band. "Oh"! he said "We can't use that. It's where the Hunt Committee have their dinner". I explained that we had a really splendid dining room where, just a week earlier, we had entertained HRH Princess Margaret to lunch."I'm aware of the dining room" he replied "If the committee sit in there, no one knows who they are".

On the evening of the ball, the band used the smaller stage with miles of trailing cables. The Hunt Committee, resplendent in their finery, sat at a table on the stage, eating their dinner illuminated by the footlights whilst an army of waiters trapsed between the distant kitchens and the stage, trying to keep the food sufficiently hot. Rather aloof for a pack of vermin hunters!

The Social Imperative

A local kennels recently received a West Highland White Terrier as a boarder. The dog had been the constant companion of his male owner who had sadly died and left his treasured friend in the custody of his widow and their daughter. When the animal arrived at kennels it was suffering from a very bad skin condition that urgently required a visit to the vet. The seriousness of the condition was pointed out, as was the pain in which it put the animal.

 

The kennels succeeded in curing the condition during the animals time with them, but on the next occasion it came to stay, the condition was even worse. It was pointed out that not only was it poor care, but it could be an offence to allow an animal to suffer in such condition. An argument ensued during which the woman revealed that she could not afford to spend £60 on vets fees. "Only this week it cost me £100 for my daughter to ride with the Hunt. I'm not made of money"!