Leicestershire Police Wildlife officer advises fox hunt on which laws can and can’t be used against saboteurs
Audio Recording of Atherstone Hunt Pre-season meeting
***AUDIO OF ATHERSTONE HUNT AND LOCAL WILDLIFE OFFICER****PLEASE SHARE***KEY POINTS:Wildlife officer advises hunt on which laws can and can’t be used against saboteursHunts governing body MFHA would be happy if the Atherstone disbandedHunt supporters told off for their bad behaviourHunts joint-masters talk about trail huntingWe have obtained an audio recording of the Atherstone Hunt’s recent pre-season meeting. All riders, supporters and followers were encouraged to attend the meeting at the Odd House in Snarestone. The hunts joint-masters all sat at the front alongside two police officers from Leicestershire Police (who were introduced as Leicestershire Hunt). During the talk Leicestershire Police’s wildlife officer Rob Cross talked in depth about which laws can and cannot be used against hunt saboteurs. This included a lengthy explanation on the differences between trespass and aggravated trespass. He is heard saying that spraying citronella, cracking whips and anything like that could be classed as aggravated trespass and is quick to agree with a hunt supporter that standing in a field could be criminal damage of crops. He says “If you can document that damage then yeah brilliant” He is also heard saying “WE’RE not dealing with idiots, these people are intelligent, quite shrewd people, quite clever. They will sabotage the organisation from whatever angle they can”. We also learn from the meeting that two of the joint masters have had several meetings with Leicestershire Police. What was discussed at these meetings and why did they take place? At a recent police training day it was explained to Leicestershire Police that “trail hunting” doesn't exist and is just a cover for fox hunting yet at no point did either officer question the hunt when they were talking about their trail hunting.Is it appropriate for a wildlife officer to be advising a fox hunt about which laws can and can’t be used against hunt saboteurs? Does this amount to collusion between the hunt and police? Leicestershire Police’s former wildlife officer was forced to resign as wildlife officer after it was revealed that she rode with the Belvoir Hunt.Leicestershire Police Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leicspolice/MFHAWe also heard during the meeting that the hunts governing body the Master of Fox Hounds Association (MFHA) have “gone mad” and have had enough of the Atherstone Hunt because of all the trouble they have caused and would be quite happy if they weren’t around any more. The MFHA pay a percentage of the Atherstone Hunt’s legal fees which have been substantial and has cost the MFHA a lot of money. As a result they no longer want to insure the Atherstone and will not be paying any of their legal fees should they find themselves in trouble. Over the past three years Atherstone Hunt supporters have amassed 20 convictions, police cautions and community resolutions for violence and antisocial behaviour. They have also been investigated numerous times for killing foxes. https://www.facebook.com/WestMidsHuntSabs/videos/1029418803869860/ (Yet a wildlife officer is happy to sit alongside and advise this same hunt on which laws can be used against saboteurs who have zero convictions) HUNT SUPPORTThe Atherstone Hunt have NEVER once admitted in public that they have done anything wrong. However in private the joint-masters spent a considerable time telling off their hunt supporters for their bad behaviour. They now have a zero tolerance policy (why have they not had this from the start?) and anyone who causes trouble won't be welcome back including anyone “who finds it acceptable to throw horse muck at the antis and steal their banners” there were hunt directors standing and watching as this incident happened and did nothing to try to stop it. Instead they stood by and found it amusing. https://www.facebook.com/WestMidsHuntSabs/videos/1009549382523469/ At least one of thoses hunt members have been out this season. Another supporter who has been allowed back out was pictured holding the stolen banner in a pub (clearly finding that behaviour acceptable). We shall see who else is allowed back out as the season progresses. “TRAIL HUNTING”We hear the hunt claiming it will be hunting within the law and hunting trails. We are told that these trails will be laid the day before. It is highly unlikely that the scent would last that long. These “trails” will be laid through woods and coverts, places that foxes live. Hunt supporters are told not to holla, raise their hats or handkerchiefs if they see a fox and not to tell the huntsman. These are all acts associated with pre-ban hunting to alert the huntsman to where the fox ran but look extremely incriminating when filmed post-ban. The supporters however are told not to tell the huntsman or any hunt staff if they see a fox. Surely this would be the first thing you would do if you were wanting to avoid chasing foxes. Instead they are to let the fox be chased and the huntsman can claim he didn’t know. We are supposed to belive that the hounds will be following day old trails, that trails have been laid in places foxes are known to live (why would you do this if you were wanting to avoid chasing foxes) and when a fox is inevitably found no one is to warn the huntsman instead they are to let the hounds chase it. Rob Cross the wildlife officer sat through this explanation unquestioningly. It should be setting alarm bells ringing for any decent wildlife officer as it doesn't add up. Also what scent will the Atherstone be using to lay trails? Fox urine as the Atherstone were claiming as recently as this summer? If so where are they getting it from? It is even questionable whether it is actually legal to be spreading fox urine across the country. Again we ask is it appropriate for a WILDLIFE officer to be advising a fox hunt about which laws can be used against saboteurs. The fox hunt that has 20 convictions, cautions and community resolutions the saboteur group have zero. How many meetings have there been between the Atherstone Hunt and Leicestershire Police? What was said? We understand that the hunt have already made more false allegations which Leicestershire Police seem to be taking seriously. This is not the first time there have been questions over Leicestershire Police's impartiality over fox huntingTheir former wildlife officer rode with the BelvoirThe CPS was forced to drop an investigation into a blocked badger sett because they said Leicestershire Police had not handed the evidence in on time. They also failed completely to investigate one of the two people responsible.They were successfully sued by a member of this group for unlawfully arresting a sabWe exposed emails from this incident from Leicestershire Police saying the sab should be charged otherwise she would sue the police. They issued two Police Information Notices to members of this group based on the word of the Atherstone Hunt without seeing any evidence. They later dropped the PINs and had to apologise.They refused to hand over a letter of apology from a member of the Atherstone hunt to the victim and we aware of false allegations being made against her again.Let’s be clear as long as the Atherstone Hunt are operating we will always be watching. This meeting clearly shows that it will only be us out there trying to stop foxes from being torn apart in the name of sport and we will try and stop any kills from happening.To help us continue exposing hunting and the policing around it we would be grateful if you would consider donating towards our costs by using the link below or setting up a standing order. https://www.paypal.me/westmidlandhuntsabs sort code-089299 account no-65488120We are always grateful for the support shown to us by YOU the public. Thank you. WMHS
Posted by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs on Thursday, October 12, 2017
A recording of a meeting for one of England’s most notorious hunts has been released. And everyone should hear it [AUDIO] – The Canary
Audio of meeting between Atherstone fox hunt and local wildlife officer
Wildlife officer advises hunt on which laws can and can’t be used against saboteurs
West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs have obtained an audio recording of the Atherstone Hunt’s recent pre-season meeting. All riders, supporters and followers were encouraged to attend the meeting at the Odd House in Snarestone. The hunts joint-masters all sat at the front alongside two police officers from Leicestershire Police..
During the talk Leicestershire Police’s wildlife officer PC Rob Cross talked in depth about which laws can and cannot be used against hunt saboteurs. This included a lengthy explanation on the differences between trespass and aggravated trespass. He is heard saying that spraying citronella, cracking whips and anything like that could be classed as aggravated trespass and is quick to agree with a hunt supporter that standing in a field could be criminal damage of crops. He says “If you can document that damage then yeah brilliant” He is also heard saying “WE’RE not dealing with idiots, these people are intelligent, quite shrewd people, quite clever. They will sabotage the organisation from whatever angle they can”.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs said
“Is it appropriate for a wildlife officer to be advising a fox hunt about which laws can and can’t be used against hunt saboteurs? Does this amount to collusion between the hunt and police? We also heard in the audio recording that two of the hunts joint masters have had several meetings with Leicestershire Police. What was discussed at these meetings and why did they take place? Should they not instead be more concerned about possible breaches of the Hunting Act? At no point did either officer question the hunt when they were talking about their trail hunting. The hunt said they would be laying trails through woods and coverts, these are places that foxes are commonly found, why would you deliberately lay a trail somewhere you know foxes live if you’re trying to avoid chasing foxes? The hunt then go on to say that if any of their followers see a fox they are not to tell the huntsman. Again surely if you see a fox the first thing you would do is warn the huntsman so he can avoid chasing it. Yet we have a situation where the hounds are put into woods potentially with foxes in, when they inevitably find a fox and chase it no one is to tell the huntsman. It doesn’t really add up. The only reason you’d not tell the huntsman is so he can later claim he didn’t see it and therefore there was no intent to chase the fox. This is one of the problems with the Hunting Act, proving intent, and why it needs strengthening to include a recklessness clause.
The audio also raises questions over the scent used for the trail. The hunt claim it will be laid the day before, we question whether it would last that long or is this just a convenient way of not actually having to be seen to lay a trail? Also what scent will they be using? Most fox hunts use fox urine which is what the Atherstone Hunt have previously claimed. If you are trying to avoid hunting foxes why choose fox urine as a scent? Again a convenient way of claiming that the hounds accidentally got onto the scent of a real fox.
In our opinion the whole concept of trail hunting is a sham and a convenient story to cover up what is really going on. Leicestershire Police seem to accept this cover story at face value.”
Leicestershire Police’s former wildlife officer was forced to resign as wildlife officer after it was revealed that she rode with the Belvoir Hunt.