Animal rights campaigners are demanding stronger laws after figures revealed that more than 100 foxes were chased by hunts across England and Wales this autumn, despite the ban on fox hunting.
Data compiled by the animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports shows that 104 foxes were chased by hunts during fox cub hunting season. Cub hunting takes place between August and the end of October and involves hunts surrounding fox habitats and setting their hounds on them to train the dogs how to hunt and kill.
Figures from monitoring and reports
The figures come from incidents reported into the charity's confidential Animal Crimewatch service, evidence obtained by its field operatives, and from reports by hunt saboteurs and hunt monitors. The data also showed 332 reports of hunts engaging in anti-social behaviour. The figures only cover hunts that were being monitored, meaning the true number of foxes hunted could be even higher.
Campaigners call for tougher action
Emma Slawinski, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "The brutal practice of cub hunting is still happening despite the fox hunting ban and we need stronger hunting laws to end it once and for all."
She added: "We need the government to act upon its pledge to ban so-called trail hunting and finish the job by introducing legislation in the next parliamentary session at the latest that will consign fox hunting to the history books. We also need an effective deterrent in the form of tougher penalties, the removal of all the loopholes in the Hunting Act, and the law changed so that hunts cannot claim their kills are 'accidental'."
MP and government respond
Labour MP Ruth Jones said: "These new figures reveal that hunts are continuing to flout the law whilst at the same time claiming they can police and control their hunters and supporters. It is time to end these cruel and barbaric activities and this can only be done by closing the loopholes in the Hunting Act. It was a Labour Party commitment in the 2024 manifesto and we need to action it now."
A Defra spokesperson said: "We are committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting that truly protects our countryside, wildlife and rural communities. The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure that wild mammals such as foxes, deer and hares are not placed in danger of being injured or killed by dogs and this must stop."
