Fox hunting probe

EAST Runcorn’s Mike Amesbury MP has called for a ‘robust review’ of Cheshire police’s response to allegations of illegal fox hunting.

The MP for Weaver Vale said he has received several reports from constituents of such activity in and around Cheshire.

In January, the Weekly News reported how Mr Amesbury had raised a parliamentary question to the Home Secretary asking what assessment she had made of the extent of illegal fox hunting in the county and what steps she was taking to prevent it, only for Home Office minister to say it was a matter for the police.

Mr Amesbury said he has now followed up the allegations he has received with the RSPCA and Cheshire Constabulary.

A spokesman for the MP’s office said police had responded that where hounds hunt a ‘scent’ rather than a fox, this ‘occasionally’ leads to hounds tracking and killing a fox even if not originally intended and that the legislation was geared towards ‘determining intent’ rather than outcome.

Mr Amesbury has now written to Cheshire Police And Crime Commissioner David Keane to request a review of how the force follows up such claims.

A Cheshire police spokeswoman has previously told the Weekly News that investigations can hit a wall because groups who document what they claim to be illegal activity are not then willing to provide any evidence or make a follow up statement to form the basis needed to probe the allegations.

Mr Amesbury said: “I want to see a robust review of the policing response to this and I’ll be speaking with the Police And Crime Commissioner and asking him to look at how these allegations are handled and investigated.”

He added: “The Government response also gives the view that it’s not their problem, but that’s not the view of people in my constituency.”

Cheshire police was approached for comment.