The West Norfolk Hunt meets at Fakenham Race Course last year

Norfolk MP says fox hunting ban has had “damaging impact” on countryside

Monday, December 26, 2011
6:30 AM

A Norfolk MP is calling for a parliamentary committee to set up, to review the impact of the fox hunting ban on the countryside.

Mid-Norfolk MP George Freeman’s comments came as Britain’s biggest animal welfare group said the ban and subsequent enforcement have been increasingly successful when it comes to combating cruelty in the countryside, pointing to an increase in successful prosecutions.

As members of the West Norfolk Hunt and their followers gather at Fakenham Racecourse today, Mr Freeman said: “The annual Boxing Day meets are part of our national heritage.

“Tens of thousands of people across Britain – from the upland Fell  packs to the West Norfolk – will be showing their support for their local hunts.

“Through their employment of people in often remote areas, their membership and events, support for pony clubs and the wider equestrian economy, local hunts play a vital role in the rural economy.

“Horse racing in particular is dependent on the hunts for the network of point to points which underpin National Hunt Racing.”

Mr Freeman said hunts had survived because the ban was unenforceable. Cash-strapped police forces acrosss the land do not see hunting as a major priority on the operational front.

“Their survival is fragile and unsustainable,” said Mr Freeman. “The ban is having a hugely damaging impact.

“At a time when we need all the jobs and growth we can get, we should repeal the ban and bring hunting back within a new regulatory code of conduct for country sports, with proper evidence-based monitoring of the many and various animal welfare and environmental impacts of hunts.

“I am pleased that the coalition government has committed to a free vote on the ban in its coalition agreement.

“But before we have that vote, let’s set up a parliamentary committee of inquiry to find out what effect the ban is really having.

“All the anecdotal evidence is that the ban is bad for animal welfare, bad for the countryside, bad for the rural economy and a waste of police resources.

“Let’s look at the evidence properly so we can decide on repeal on the basis of the facts rather than political bigotry and class war against the countryside.”

Along with the West Norfolk, the North Norfolk Harriers will be meeting at Sennowe Park today, the Waveney Harriers at Bungay and the Dunston Harriers at Wymondham.

As hunts prepared for a day which has become a show of defiance since the Hunting Act became law in 2005, a new report from one of their main opponents claimed it was working well and had been more successful than other pieces of legislation aimed at tackling wildlife crime.

The RSPCA said 73pc of the 49 prosecutions taken out against those suspected of hunting with dogs in 2010 were successful.

The 36 convictions representing an increase of 10pc on 2009.

Claire Robinson, the society’s government relations manager, said: “The Act is now in its seventh year and remains pivotal in protecting wildlife and preventing cruelty in this country – any suggestions that it does not work are ridiculous.

“It seems incredible to me that anyone ever thought it was acceptable to pursue and attack a wild animal with a pack of dogs – leading to an utterly pointless death.

“This act has ensured this vile practice is a thing of the past, and I hope it stays that way.”

The RSPCA says it is “extremely alarmed” by the prospect of a free vote on repeal.

It claims a YouGov poll this month showed that nearly 80pc of the public thought hunting was outdated, while 8pc considered it acceptable and 2pc thought it was humane.

What worries the RSPCA is obvious. While they did not quite achieve a big enough majority to form a government without forming a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives are the biggest party in parliament.

There has been frustration behind the scenes in some quarters that 18 months after the election, there is still no timescale regarding a repeal vote.

“The prime minister made it clear at the last election that we would have a vote on repeal this parliament and that commitment is retained ion the coalition agreement; I’m confident that will be honoured,” said Mr Freeman.

“The issue is to make sure that the decision is made in a way that reflects what has actually happened since the ban was passed.

“We’ve got 250 new MPs, we’ve got a new government and, crucially, we’ve got several years of experience of the ban and its actual impact.”

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18 comments

did we really vote for this bafoon ?

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pongo

Saturday, December 31, 2011
no problem with hunting - I do have a problem with the reason that its done, for fun or sport - there has to be an evolution of the older countryside practices that can result a pack of dogs pulling apart a fox - its the long and painful death part i dont agree with, I am all for going into the wild and making the best use of a weapon to hunt and kill an animal which is then eaten and used to provide sustenance. Having said that, there are always going to be grey areas - im offering no answer

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Al

Thursday, December 29, 2011
I can't believe some people are seriously suggesting that snipers be allowed to take pot shots at the so-called 'hunters'. This would in no way assist the situation and may even cause more problems than it solves.

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Yahweh or the Highway

Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Boadicea - reason dictates that if an animal is no longer being persecuted in its natural habitat it would be less likely to encroach on one which is not only unnatural but also more hazardous. Perhaps you should stop feeding them?

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Thoreauwasright

Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Boadecia 1959 - Cats tear through my rubbish and sh*t in my garden all the time does this make it right to hunt them down and tear them to bits for pleasure?

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Queenie

Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Nothing wrong with hunting animals.It is traditional rural sport.

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bookworm

Monday, December 26, 2011
Kill foxes in an appalling manner, just to keep people in employment. Isn't the human race great?

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Shytalkz

Monday, December 26, 2011
Norfolk MP, another one who is out of touch how on earth can you have a code of conduct when it comes to animal welfare. This guy must have had to much brandy soaked xmas pud to come up with this stupid idea ! I have an idea get a pack of dogs to chase after him after a few cognacs, tally ho ho ho said santa !!!!!!!!

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chebram71

Monday, December 26, 2011
It has become noticeable to me - a non-horsey non-political town dweller - that since the hunting ban there have been more foxes in urban areas, something which was virtually unheard of years ago before the ban. I for one will be glad to see the hunting ban successfully repealed, as frankly I am sick and tired of having foxes scrounge through my rubbish, leaving half of it strewn along the road, and leaving their crap over my patio and lawn (especially with two young children about). These sort of incidents have become more and more frequent since the ban came into force as my neighbours have noticed too. Foxes are not Basil Brush characters as me and my family have found out. I wouldn't want to see them snared, shot or poisoned though, as any of those options could likely result in an agonising death lingering possibly for 2 or 3 days. So my view is repeal the ban, take the pressure of the police who are left to try and enforce it, and let the money be spent on more pressing matters.

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Boadicea 1959

Monday, December 26, 2011
bolderdashing poppycocks! the idea of wasting valuable time in parliament, when global economic hardship, attacks against Iran and more privatisation of public services needs discussing, with another round of sillyness is utterly absurd, maybe it was the Christmas pudding thats done it.

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ingo wagenknecht

Monday, December 26, 2011
Building houses damages the countryside but some things are neccessary. Killing foxes for pleasure is not.

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buckeee0

Monday, December 26, 2011
Another minority claiming their right to inflict cruelty on animals. If its not the 'kill obsessed' hunts, its a fanatical religious sect carrying out ritual slaughter. When will the majority of law-abiding citizens who respect and admire our wildlife and who abhor Halal slaughter, obtain the right to live in a decent society?

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mhayworth

Monday, December 26, 2011
Ooooo arrrrhhh...youm fast talkin' towns folk don't understand our country ways. Witch burning , marrying your sister , satanic abuse , The Wicker Man , bestiality , wife swapping , collecting large EU subsidies for doing nothing , casual racial abuse to any " stranger ". Leave , there's nothing for you here.

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LARSON.E. WHIPSNADE

Monday, December 26, 2011
When the law was enforced these people argued that the fox numbers needed keeping under control, now it's all about heritage and countryside, the law was enforced because the majority of humane people see this as a cruel and needless sport. As for a waste of police resources stop breaking the law and the police would be free to do something else.

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Queenie

Monday, December 26, 2011
More self-serving nonsense from the ever disgraceful pro-hunt lobby. If you want to take the nags and dogs out for a stretch and can do so without trespassing - fine. But why not muzzle your dogs? Foxes "accidentally" caught - not to mention private pets such as cats and rabbits - are then spared their fate. If work is needed on the hunting bill it's to plug the gaps, not repeal it. The weight of public opinion favours a ban. That's B-A-N - geddit?

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PaddyNR1

Monday, December 26, 2011
Doesn't the fact that these hunts are continuing to thrive rather prove the point that the hunting ban hasn't had a major impact? Seems to me like a good compromise. The animals rights lot get to protect a few foxes and the toffs get to career around the countryside on their horses blowing their horns.

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xxxx

Monday, December 26, 2011
Ban it for good, the current so called ban is neither here nor there. There's no place in modern society for such behaviour to be condoned as a method of animal control.

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KeithS

Monday, December 26, 2011
Much more animal cruelty is carried out by so called animal lovers than all hunting people put together. Face the truth, the large number of dog breeders that have been before the courts for cruelty and downright neglect of animals, huh, truth hurts.

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Paul Platten

Monday, December 26, 2011