Last updated at 13:54, Tuesday, 08 November 2011

The sunny, crisp autumn days of late are perfect for getting out and about and enjoying Cumbria in all its colourful glory.

From this week hikers, dog-walkers and cyclists will be venturing out into the countryside alongside a group of people not there for pleasure but on a zealous mission: to stamp out what they claim are illegal fox hunts.

Come rain or shine, masked members of Cumbria Hunt Saboteurs head out during hunting season, which normally lasts until April.

Hunting with dogs was banned under the Hunting Act, which came into effect in February 2005. Since the ban was introduced hunts have practised drag hunting where hounds follow a scent instead.

If the hounds accidentally come across and kill a fox, no offence is committed; it is against the law only if the hunt deliberately sets out to chase a fox.

But Cumbria Hunt Saboteurs and other protesters claim hunts across the county have been wantonly flouting the law for the past six-and-a-half years.

One member, David (not his real name), told the News & Star that the group has just a handful of members who monitor hunts about twice a week.

“There are just a few of us – it’s not a very attractive prospect to spend hours in the rain or snow. We concentrate on one or two packs, such as Blencathra [Foxhounds], because that has more of an impact. If the law was applied we would not have to go out. It is in favour of those hunting.

“They claim to be following a false trail, but if that’s the case why are they so uptight with our presence and why do they try to avoid us? In the past they have put up road signs saying the route is blocked off and slashed our tyres.

“They make hay while the sun shines in one valley, then when we turn up go to another valley. When we walk in and they see we are there, they go through the motions and pretend to call the hounds off using horns.

“It’s a charade. My motto is that the only trail they are laying is one of deceit. I have seen foxes killed. The hunters will say that accidents happen. That’s like me letting my dog run in bushes where rabbits are and being surprised it has killed the rabbits.”

David says they wear balaclavas for two reasons: to keep warm and to protect their identity, for fear of reprisals from hunt supporters. He says they do bump into tourists but claims they are not intimidated by them.

“We do meet a lot of people walking in the area. They will ask you what you are doing and we get the odd one who disagrees with us but most agree with why we are there.”

Only one person has been prosecuted under the Hunting Act in Cumbria since it became law. A man was fined £200 by Penrith Magistrates in July last year for hunting a mammal.

One member of a Cumbrian hunt was prosecuted for obstruction following complaints from monitors that roads were blocked to stop them following hounds. There have also been police cautions given out to hunt members and monitors for assaults and public order offences.

David says that his group do record hunts on video – to present as evidence in court – but their main tactic is to stop the hunt on the day because he doesn’t believe enough cases make it to court.

He’s not the only one – the League Against Cruel Sports also believes that the majority of hunts are flouting the law and has launched its own Hunt Crimewatch.

The organisation plans to spend more than £1m over the next four years to hire investigations staff and equipment to gather evidence and get illegal hunts into court.

David is doubtful this will have much effect though. “I’ve nothing against the League but most cases do not get past the Crown Prosecution Service. They say there’s not enough proof.”

Given the strong feelings on both sides tensions can and do run high during hunting season. Last week, it was announced that Cumbria Police will use high visibility patrols this season to reduce clashes between huntsmen and protesters.

Pairs of officers in patrol cars will attend some meetings although limited resources will restrict their presence.

Officers will focus their efforts on the Blencathra and Melbreak fell packs, which have both experienced problems between members and anti-hunt protesters.

“Since the Hunting Act came in, there has been constant reports of clashes. These have included complaints of assaults, intimidation and roads being blocked by vehicles,” says PC John Shaw, wildlife crime officer with Cumbria Police.

“There has been a regular stream of complaints from both sides and we want to reduce the number of incidents. We’re not there to try and catch the huntsmen out. Our role is more to prevent breaches of the peace and to try and manage the confrontation.

“It’s about keeping a presence just like we would do on a Saturday night in the town centre. We are impartial and we’re not taking sides.”

The Countryside Alliance, which speaks for hunting packs, believes policing hunts is a waste of time on an “unworkable” Hunting Act.

Alice Barnard, chief executive of the Alliance, says: “As a piece of legislation it is has been condemned widely – including by those who created it – yet law-abiding hunts are still forced to go about their daily lives under the threat of harassment and intimidation from saboteurs who then waste police time pursuing cases that never see the light of day.”

David denies his group resorts to intimidation or violence. “Not a chance. I do what I’m doing to protect life. We want the hunt stopped, not to have a confrontation with people. I have had to defend myself in the past but that is what you do if you feel intimidated, it’s a natural reaction.

“We do not want to break the law, we want these groups to implement the Hunting Act. As concerned members of the public we want to protect the animal. If we were not there these people would have free rein.”

And he believes the work of Cumbria Hunt Saboteurs is having an impact.

“Our presence does deter them but there’s not many of us, so we can stop the fox being killed that morning but there’s nothing to stop them going back that night. But we do as much as we can.”

The News & Star gave the Blencathra hunt the opportunity to respond to the allegations but they declined to comment.

First published at 11:23, Tuesday, 08 November 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk