Two men filmed on ‘illegal’ fox hunt are charged

TWO men have been charged with breaking the law on hunting with dogs after footage emerged of a fox hunt in the Borders.

Campaigners claim the ban on hunting with dogs is routinely being flouted, although hunt supporters say they follow the law.

The Jedforest hunt was covertly filmed by the League Against Cruel Sports in February. The footage appears to show the huntsmen sending their hounds across fields chasing fleeing foxes, where the law states they should only be used to flush out foxes into the open to shoot them.

Police Scotland said two men, aged 23 and 65, have been charged under the wildlife crime legislation from 2002, which banned fox hunting in Scotland.

Both men will appear in Jedburgh Sheriff Court in May.

The case comes as Lord Bonomy carries out a review of the law on hunting in Scotland, which is expected to tighten the ban. The

‘Pulling wool over

our eyes’

review was controversially begun months after the SNP accepted a £10,000 donation from campaigners fighting for tougher rules.

Robbie Marsland, director of the League Against Cruel Sports Scotland, said many hunts were ‘trying to pull the wool over our eyes’ and argued it was too easy to get round the law. He added: ‘We are convinced that hunts are using flushing to guns with a full pack of hounds in an attempt to provide a false alibi.’

The group claims six out of ten hunts in the 2015-16 season, which it filmed, acted illegally.

The Scottish Countryside Alliance argued that huntsmen go to great lengths to ensure they remain within the law, with only ten people charged and three people convicted of deliberately hunting with foxes.

Director Jamie Stewart said: ‘Every Scottish pack is governed by a protocol. Jedforest Hunt has been abiding by that protocol and I am very confident that on further investigation, they will uncover no illegal action.’

The Jedforest hunt said it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage in proceedings.