Tougher ban on fox hunting needed, say animal groups
The number of crimes involving hunting with dogs has more than doubled in Scotland in the last year, prompting calls for the introduction of a tougher ban on fox hunting.
There were 44 such offences during 2015-16, an annual increase of 24 and the highest number recorded in five years, the figures from the Scottish Government show.
Although overall wildlife crime has fallen, animal charities said the increase in dog hunting crimes was “very worrying” and suggested that the actual figure could be much higher.
Hare coursing accounted for 38 of the offences, with only a few involving fox hunting and deer hunting. Almost half of the incidents were recorded in the North East of Scotland.
However, the League Against Cruel Sports said it believed the fox hunting figures would be much higher were it not for “sub-standard legislation” preventing successful prosecutions.
The killing of foxes with hounds was outlawed in 2002, but dogs can still be used to “flush out” foxes and chase them towards the hunts, where the animals are shot.
Last year a review of the ban carried out by Lord Bonomy estimated that around one in five fox hunts in Scotland resulted in the animal being killed by hounds rather than shot.
His report said the figure – which was based on “anecdotal evidence” – would be equivalent to 160 foxes being killed in this way every year, proposing a system of independent monitoring of hunts.
“Incidents involving hunting with dogs are at a record high which is clearly cause for concern,” said Robbie Marsland, director of the League Against Cruel Sports in Scotland.
“Last year saw the first conviction for illegal fox hunting since the legislation came into force 15 years ago which used League evidence to convict two hunters.”
Growing dissatisfaction with thelegislationpromptedscottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone to bring forward a member’s bill at Holyrood with the aim of imposing a total ban on fox hunting.
“These figures add weight to the case for a proper ban on fox hunting,” she said yesterday. “The public are understandably horrified that animal cruelty is continuing despite the intentions of the 2002 legislation to ban hunting with dogs.”
However, the Scottish Countryside Alliance said the “low levels” of recorded crime relating to fox hunting suggested the current system was working well. “Despite the claims made by the League Against Cruel Sports of illegal hunting, we continue to work closely with Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to alleviate suspicion of illegal hunting wherever possible,” said its director Jamie Stewart. “It calls into question Alison Johnstone’s member’s bill to ban fox hunting in Scotland when in fact there is no evidence to suspect any illegal hunting.”
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