Trail hunts halted for police inquiry
Forestry England has suspended all licences for trail hunting on its land after a police inquiry was opened over leaked footage from a hunting group webinar. Police and the Crown Prosecution Service are investigating whether any offences occurred during the seminar hosted by The Hunting Office, the sport’s governing body, in which there is a discussion about creating a “smokescreen” during trail laying. Animal rights activists claim the sport is used as a cover for fox hunting.
FORESTRY England has suspended all licences for trail hunting in the nation’s forests after a police investigation was opened over leaked footage from a hunting group webinar.
Police and the Crown Prosecution Service are investigating whether any offences occurred during the webinar hosted by The Hunting Office, the sport’s governing body, in which a discussion takes place on creating a “smokescreen” during trail laying.
The National Trust, whose lands are also used for some trail hunting, said yesterday said it was aware of the video and was reviewing its policies on the sport, which involves creating a track of scent for dogs, to simulate hunting.
Animal rights activists allege that the sport is used as a cover for fox hunting, which was outlawed along with all hunting of mammals by dogs in 2005. Hunting groups say any fox deaths that occur during trail laying are accidental, and occur when the hounds chance upon the animals, which is not illegal.
There were more than 250 trail hunting dates on Forestry England property last year, with around 37 different hunts. Mike Seddon, the Forestry England chief executive, said: “We are clear when we give people licences or permission for activities in the nation’s forests that they must behave legally and responsibly or risk losing the right to carry on.
“Once we had confirmation from the police that they were investigating activities involving The Hunting Office, we suspended all licences granted to organisations that delegate work to them.” Mr Seddon added: “We do not intend to make any further comments until the police have concluded their investigation.”
The online seminar, which was held in August this year, before the start of the hunting season, was infiltrated by hunt saboteurs, who later leaked parts of the video on social media.
The webinars, which were attended by more than 100 hunt staff and masters of hunts, were designed to discuss how hunting groups could avoid saboteur groups and legal challenges.
In an edited section of video posted by hunt saboteurs on social media, one of the participants can be heard saying: “It’s a lot easier to create a smokescreen if you’ve got more than one trail layer operating,” before adding: “And that is what it’s all about, trying to portray to the people watching that you’re going about your legitimate business.”
The Hunting Office earlier said that the comments on the leaked video had been taken “completely out of context” but could not be reached for further comment last night.
It said in a statement: “The purpose of the webinars held in August was very clearly to facilitate legal hunting, and any allegation that they were organised for any other purpose is completely incorrect. We will cooperate fully with the police and welcome the opportunity to clarify the situation. In the meantime we understand the decision of the Forestry Commission which will affect five of the over 200 trail hunts that operate in England.”
Hunts on Forestry England land are currently suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, but the organisation said the suspension would remain in place until it had enough information to review the situation.