31st January 2008

An un-pheasant surprise

A woman narrowly missed being struck by a flying pheasant when it "fell out of the sky" and landed on her car on Monday, smashing the windscreen and denting the bonnet.

The woman, who lives in Stapleton Road, Boreham-wood, but does not want to be named, had heard banging noises at around 10am and went outside to investigate. She was standing by her Vauxhall Frontera when the gamebird fell onto the roof and then slid down the windscreen and bonnet, eventually landing on the ground by her feet.

Repairs to the windscreen cost £95, and caused the woman's two ill children to miss a hospital appointment.

30th January 2008

'Horror hounds' terrorise street

GLANAMAN residents have spoken of their anger and fear after their street was invaded by a pack of foxhounds on Saturday morning. People living in Llwyncelyn Road say the peace of their "quiet, country road" was shattered by a pack of around 30 dogs and followers of what they claim was an illegal hunt pursuing a fox.

They say the marauding dogs were out of control and forced residents to keep their frightened children and pet dogs indoors. "My mum was coming home from shopping when all of a sudden these hounds came running down the hill," mum-of-three Jen Morris-Benedek told the Guardian.

She described how neighbours tried to coax the fox into a garage for its own protection, but the terrified animal still managed to bolt to freedom.

"The dogs were out of control and we could hear the hunters two fields up the mountain," said Ms Morris-Benedek. "No-one was near those dogs

30th January 2008

CRACKDOWN ON HARE COURSING GANGS

Police are launching a new crackdown on hunting gangs coming to the county to kill hares. Lincolnshire Police say that far from being "poor poachers" looking for a meal to put on the table - these are hardened organised crooks who make thousands in betting on the slaughter of animals. There is also evidence that Lincolnshire locals are being threatened with violence unless they turn a blind eye.

Officers in Heckington and Billinghay say Operation Magnate aims to stamp out this kind of activity. They will respond to calls from farmers and extra patrols will take place in the area. Hare coursers commit offences under the Poaching Prevention Act 1862 and Hunting Act 2004 and face hefty fines of up to £5,000. The courts also have the power to make an order against a convicted person for the forfeiture of any relevant dog, vehicle or hunting article.

30th January 2008

Wirral News exposes the sick cruelty of badger baiters

SADISTIC gangs are hunting down badgers in Wirral and torturing them before setting their dogs on them. Badger-baiting and fox killing has been going on in the borough’s rural community for years. Five men on the Wirral Way were reported to police a matter of weeks ago, but were never caught.

Merseyside Police wildlife crime officer, DC Steve Harris, who works with DEFRA, RSPB and local conservation groups to tackle the problem, said: “There is a proven correlation between people who are cruel to animals and those who are cruel to humans.“There is often a link between these people and domestic violence or child abuse. I asked a man why he hunted badgers and he replied ‘because I love it’. It sickens me.”

26th January 2008

TOP VETS SAY HUNT IS BEST TO CONTROL FOX

It took eight years, 700 hours of Parliamentary time and divided Britain between town and country like never before. But now, after all that, a group of animal welfare veterinarians is claiming that hunting foxes with packs of dogs for pest control is the best way.

The major report conducted by the Veterinary Association of Wildlife Management, looked at what happens to foxes when they are hunted, compared with the alternatives put forward by the Government after hunting with dogs was banned in February 2005.

But anti-hunt groups dismissed the report, and questioned the impartiality of the VAWM

24th January 2008

Fox's death sparks hunting row

DRAMATIC images of a fox being mauled to death by hounds has sparked a massive row between hunters and saboteurs.

Police were called after a fox was torn apart by hounds on a hunt in Ockley, leaving saboteurs blaming the hunters and hunters claiming they were sabotaged.

The Hunt Saboteur Association has released shocking images from the hunt, which happened in Ockley on January 5, on its website this week

24th January 2008

MP Soames interviewed over quad bike incident

Police have formally interviewed Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames about a quad bike incident near his Slaugham home.

Mr Soames was filmed by an anti-hunt monitor driving a quad bike a short distance along a lane on New Year's Day with a child on the back and two further children with three adults in a trailer attached to the vehicle.

Mr Soames confirmed this week: "The police have interviewed me and it will go before the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration. I expect to hear the outcome in two to three weeks."

24th January 2008

Boos, wine and tax cuts at the Channel 4 political awards

I was at the Channel Four political awards last night, where the strangest thing happened.

Their main award - (most inspiring political figure of the last decade) - was given to the Countryside Alliance, introduced by Jeremy Irons. As he spoke, boos came from the crowd. At first, I thought it was a joke.

Then when the award was accepted (by Ann Mallalieu, president of the Alliance) the booing grew louder and cries of "get off" could be heard as she delivered her acceptance speech. In front of an invited Channel Four audience. Incredible.

18th January 2008

Web images snare badger baiters

A court has heard how a badger baiting ring was discovered after a teenager posted pictures of an animal being attacked by a dog on the internet.

Police obtained warrants and searched several houses in Hawick in the Borders after viewing the images.

Two members of the gang appeared at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday and admitted digging at badger setts

Hunt supporter arrested in illegal damage probe

A man was arrested following allegations of criminal damage while watching a hunt meet in Cumbria.

Anti-hunt activists have alleged that the car they were in was attacked while they watched a meeting of the Coniston Foxhounds, near Ambleside, last Thursday. The North West Hunt Saboteurs Association say three of their members were watching the hunt from the car. They claimed to have attended several meetings in Cumbria this year in an attempt to gather evidence about alleged illegal hunting.

Police confirmed that a 40-year -old man from Ambleside was arrested following an allegation of criminal damage. He was released on bail pending further investigation

14th January 2008

Queen of mercy for pheasant

The Queen spent 10 minutes searching for a pheasant shot on a royal estate in case it was lying injured in agony. The bird was hit by Tory MP Nicholas Soames during a shooting party.

Mr Soames, 59, said it was "stone dead" as it plunged into a field. But the Queen, 81, was unconvinced and set off in her waxed jacket and headscarf to make sure. She eventually gave up as her gun dogs were unable to pick up the scent.

An onlooker said: "The Queen is a traditional countrywoman and hates the idea of a bird in agony. She makes sure they are put out of their misery."

Mr Soames, who faces police charges for illegally towing children behind a quad bike, is a regular guest at 20,000-acre Sandringham in Norfolk.

13th January 2008

Rise in illegal hare coursing

Hare coursing is on the rise, according to police and animal welfare charities. The increase in illegal hunts over recent months has sparked claims that Labour's anti-hunting legislation is proving ineffective.

Coursing involves hares being chased down by lurchers and other dogs. The activity was banned under the 2004 Hunting Act.

13th January 2008

Foxes found dead 'were poisoned'

Tests are being carried out on some foxes found dead in Surrey which are believed to have been poisoned.

Officers said five dead foxes were found in the Overdale area of Ashtead, and early indications suggested that three had been poisoned

13th January 2008

Anti-hunting laws punish nine in first two years

Just nine people have been punished under Labour's anti-hunting legislation over the past two years and not one of them was involved in an organised hunt, The Daily Telegraph has learned.

The news comes after the ban on hunting was left in tatters when a judge suggested it was virtually impossible to bring a conviction against those accused of breaking the law.
Campaigners said the legislation was being used to convict poachers, rather than stop organised hunting with dogs.

11th January 2008

RSPB criticised over shooting on reserve

The RSPB has brushed off criticism for allowing wildfowlers to shoot birds on a nature reserve. The bird conservation organisation issues licenses to hunters who are allowed to shoot up the 10 birds per day.

Critics say the RSPB, which has 1m members, shouldn't allow hunting on its reserve at Langstone Harbour near Portsmouth in Hants where thousands of migrating Arctic birds, including ducks and geese, spend the winter.

Barry Hugill, from the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "I find it exceedingly distasteful. It's a wildlife sanctuary

11th January 2008

Rampaging hunt hounds cause £4,000 damage to garden

Stray hunting hounds that rampaged through a Northamptonshire garden have caused up to £4,000 in damage.

Sonia Hawes, who lives in High Street, Eydon, says now she can never leave her home for the weekend for fear the dogs will destroy her garden again.

The 51-year-old artist was finishing her lunch when she saw around 20 hunting dogs from the Bicester Hunt enter her garden, damaging her pond, swimming pool and woodpile

9th January 2008

HUNTSMEN PROSECUTION 'INHUMANE'

The Countryside Alliance has attacked the "inhumane" prosecution of two Westcountry huntsmen, the first in the country to plead guilty to breaching the ban after their hounds chased a sick fox.

William Goffe and Gary Bradley flouted the law on a hunt with Somerset's Minehead Harriers by allowing hounds on a trail hunt to go after a fox with mange. The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) brought a private prosecution and the men became the first in the country to plead guilty to a breach of the hunt legislation.

Magistrates in Bridgwater were told on Monday that anti-hunt monitors filmed the Harriers following a trail at Alcombe, near Minehead, in February last year. Some hounds uncovered a fox in a gorse patch and chased after it.

HUNT DISMISSES 'FOX KILLED 'CLAIM

Hunt masters have dismissed suggestions made in an online article that a fox was killed at the Matching Green hunt on Boxing Day. In an article for the Scotsman newspaper, Dan Buglass outlined a visit to the hunt with his grandson, who took part in the event, and said: "I cannot say whether a fox was killed during the chase, but an indiscreet wink from Fraser (grandson) suggested much."

It is not illegal for a fox to be killed as part of a hunt, unless it is killed by a hound.

However one of the Essex Hunt masters, Dawn Trembath said no foxes were even involved on the day. She said: "We were following trails and flushing out birds of prey. "The police were with us all day and as far as I am aware, no fox was hunted at all."

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9th January 2008

Horror badger baiting find

NEW evidence of barbaric badger baiters operating in Gwent was found in a horrifying discovery near Pontypool. Gwent Badger Group discovered a sett in the area known as Goytre Wharf, which had been dug out on New Years Eve, after a report from a member of the public.

He is convinced the act was carried out by hardened wildlife criminals determined to pull a badger from the sett to use for badger baiting.Steve Clark, the group's chairman said: "An area three metres long over the sett had been disturbed and logs had been jammed down into the hole." When the logs were removed the true extent of the damage was revealed

8th January 2008

SABOTEURS' ARRESTS ARE UNDER FIRE
 
The leader of Derby City Council has written to Derbyshire's Chief Constable to complain about the arrests of 11 hunt saboteurs.

Councillor Chris Williamson, a former hunt saboteur, sent an e-mail to Mick Creedon following the arrests on Saturday, describing the police response as "heavy-handed".

8th January 2008

HUNT SABOTEURS ARRESTED IN DERBYSHIRE

Eleven hunt saboteurs were arrested at the weekend and kept in custody for up to 24 hours.

Police were called to a farm in Somersal Herbert in Derbyshire at 1pm on Saturday, where a Meynell and South Staffordshire drag hunt was taking place.

They arrested the saboteurs under the Trade Union Act, which covers protests, and kept them in custody overnight at St Mary's Wharf police station in Derby.

8th January 2008

GUILTY PLEA AFTER HUNT PAIR DO A DEAL WITH THE LEAGUE

Two huntsmen yesterday became the first in the country to plead guilty to breaking the hunt ban after an unprecedented deal between the two sides.

William Goffe and Gary Bradley admitted breaching the ban while out on an organised hunt with the Minehead Harriers in February last year.

Their guilty pleas were the first by huntsmen in the short history of the hunt ban in England, and were welcomed by the League Against Cruel Sports which brought the private prosecution.

3rd January 2008

Crack down on hare coursing

Police are cracking down on hare coursing in Oxfordshire following concerns from local people. Officers said there had been a recent increase in complaints from landowners and farmers in Wantage about the damage hare coursing was doing to their crops and farmland. And they said they were taking a zero tolerance approach to those taking part in the activity - making seven arrests in the past week.

3rd January 2008

Desperate media and racist hunt master shows true colours

THOUSANDS of hunt supporters turned out for the traditional Boxing Day meetings across the region - and renewed calls for a ban on the country sport to be repealed.

The Countryside Alliance reported record crowds at many events, with increasing numbers of women and children.

The success of the hunts, on what is traditionally the busiest day in the hunting calendar, led to renewed calls for a repeal of the three-year-old Hunting Act.

The 2004 Act made hunting with dogs a criminal offence, although exercising hounds, chasing a scent trail and flushing out foxes to be shot are all still legal.

3rd January 2008

Hunt supporters not yet ready to pack it in

CUMBRIAN Tory MP David Maclean is spearheading a political bid to try to restore fox hunting.

The political campaigning to overturn the hunting ban came as all the Cumbrian packs staged a traditional Boxing Day event.

The Eskdale and Ennerdale pack left their kennels in the valley and there was a big turnout of supporters as the hounds chased a trail that had been laid around the valley.

3rd January 2008

Police probe MP quad bike footage

Police are investigating a film allegedly showing a Conservative MP riding a quad bike on a public road.

A child is seen perched behind Nicholas Soames, MP for Mid Sussex. Two more children and other adults are in a trailer being towed by the quad bike

Watch the footage here

3rd January 2008

The law on the use of quad bikes

Quad bikes are not legal on public roads unless modified and driven by someone over 16, who is insured, according to the Health and Safety Executive. On private land, children under 13 are prohibited from driving or being a passenger on one. Those aged 13 or over are allowed to ride quad bikes of an appropriate size and power, but only after they have been given formal training.

The HSE says that the bikes should never be used to carry passengers. There is no legal requirement for a quad bike driver or passenger to wear a crash helmet, but it is strongly recommended by the Department for Transport. The bike does not require a seat belt, a department source said

2nd January 2008

Hunt Fanatic MP Puts Children Lives at Risk

Nicholas Soames MP Flouts Road Legalities on New Years Day Hunt

Just days after a seven year girl tragically died after the quad bike she was driving hit a Range Rover, pro-hunt fanatic Nicholas Soames MP is filmed driving a quad bike on a road overloaded with children and adults following the notorious Crawley and Horsham hunt.

Click on "full story" above to see a photo of Tory MP Nicholas Soames, who The Sunday Times famously dubbed Fat Boy Dim, filmed driving the quad bike and trailer bearing no registration plate contrary to the Road Traffic Act and illegally loaded with five adults and several unrestrained children.