BBC Three Documentary
A member of West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs recently took part in the BBC Three Documentary Battle In The Country: The Hunt Saboteurs
A member of West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs recently took part in the BBC Three Documentary Battle In The Country: The Hunt Saboteurs
This is the video footage that completely undermined three members of the Atherstone Hunt who had claimed a member of West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs had caused them harassment, alarm or distress. The three members of the hunt included Huntsman and joint-master Mike Lane, joint-mast Mark Halford and kennelman Oliver Hope. Their case fell apart when the footage was played in court undermining their allegations. They had claimed that Cathy Scott had shouted, sworn and threatened them. The footage shows the complete opposite a quiet demonstration outside the hunts kennels, no shouting, no swearing and no threatening behavior.
After the trial we contacted Leicestershire Police and asked them to investigate the three hunt members for perverting the course of justice as they had clearly made false statements to the police and had also lied in court. Leicestershire Police refused to even consider investigating them. In fact we reported the three hunt members on THREE separate occasions to Leicestershire Police who refused to investigate. The first officer we spoke to was also rude, aggressive and defensive on the phone. We can only conclude that Leicestershire Police’s refusal to investigate this particular crime is because it would implicate some of their own officers. After all it was Leicestershire Police who allowed this case to continue despite the fact that the hunt had provided them with NO actual evidence to collaborate their claims. It was Leicestershire Police who allowed the members of the hunt to make wild accusations in their statements which had no relevance to the incident and again had no actual evidence to back them up. The officers involved in this case (PS Matt Trott and PC Alison Barnes) have a history of targeting hunt saboteurs with false allegations from the hunt that have no evidence to back them up. These same officers also have a history of taking no further action against members of the Atherstone Hunt despite actual video evidence being handed over to them.
Before the trial the CPS refused to release details of meetings between the Atherstone Hunt and officers from Leicestershire Police. This is all in stark contrast to how Leicestershire Police treat hunt saboteurs. We are not allowed to make allegations we can not back up with actual evidence.
– Three senior members of the Atherstone Hunt reported for perverting the course of justice
March 2018
Leicestershire Police took no further action against Ashley Davies, the son in law of the Atherstone Hunt chairman and friend of Leicestershire Police wildlife officer PC Rob Cross. Davies was filmed violently attacking and assaulting saboteurs who were filming the Atherstone Hunt. His attack concluded with him driving his quad bike into one of the saboteurs who ended up in a ditch as a result. The outcome could have been far more serious if the quad bike had landed on top of him. Leicestershire Police are claiming they didn’t have enough evidence, this is not true, the victim made a victim statement and handed footage in. In most circumstances this would have been more than enough. To add insult to injury Leicestershire Police are now victim blaming, saying it was the victim’s fault it got dropped as not enough statements were made.
This case highlights perfectly the vast gulf of difference in the way Leicestershire Police treat anti-hunt and pro-hunt cases. Anti-hunt cases are set impossibly high standards of evidence where it is never quite good enough whilst pro-hunt cases have absolutely no evidence threshold at all. Members of the Atherstone Hunt for example are allowed to make false allegations against saboteurs, provide NO evidence whatsoever and yet Leicestershire Police are fine with this (and continue to be) and even hand out harassment notices to saboteurs based on this none evidence. (All harassment notices have been successfully challenged and overturned)
We hold Leicestershire Police partly responsible for this incident as they took no further action against Davies for a previous incident where Davies ran at saboteurs with a metal bar.
These are not isolated cases, a few years ago members of the Atherstone Hunt attacked and stole cameras from saboteurs, the case was dropped however Leicestershire Police actually wanted to arrest the victims!
Leicestershire Police can’t even claim these decisions are being made by different people in different departments, some of these decisions (with the vast difference in required evidence) have been made by the same officer. DS Matt Trott took the decision to take no further action in the first Davies case and was the Senior Investigating Officer in the second case. In both of these cases he claims the evidence was not good enough yet Trott was also responsible for issuing the harassment notices to saboteurs based on no physical evidence from the Atherstone Hunt. In total three harassment notices (or Police Information Notices) have been issued to sabs and then later overturned.
A complaint was previously made about Trott and upheld after a phone conversation with a sab where he said “Your hunt saboteurs that’s what you do, you trespass on other peoples property and harass people”. It’s not hard to guess what Trotts opinions are about hunt saboteurs yet despite the complaint being upheld he remains part of Leicestershire Police’s hunting unit (Operation Blackthorn) making decisions about hunting issues.
Fox runs for it's life from chasing hounds
Warwickshire Hunt – Saturday 20th January 2018ANOTHER FOX FORCED TO RUN FOR IT'S LIFE FROM THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNTOn Saturday the Warwickshire Hunt hunted around Meon Hill and Admington. Every time we go to the Warwickshire Hunt at the moment we are seeing foxes being chased. Saturday was no different, as soon as we arrived we saw a fox running with hounds very close behind. We don’t know if this fox escaped or not…They spent the last part of the day hunting another fox around the Admington area, again we don’t know if this fox escaped or not. The National Trust have recently given the Warwickshire Hunt a License to use their land, despite the foxes that are filmed being chased on an almost weekly basis, despite a former hunt director receiving a caution for assaulting a sab and despite there being terrier-men present at every meet. The National Trust have said there is no place for terrier-men at a ‘trail hunt’ so we’re not sure how the National Trust explain their presence at the Warwickshire. They are normally found illegally driving quad bikes with no license plates on. The National trust should also ask themselves why is the Warwickshire Hunt desperate to stop us filming them? What have they got to hide if they aren't doing anything illegal? Please sign the petition to get the Warwickshire Hunt banned from National Trust land https://www.change.org/p/farnborough-hall-stop-the-warwickshire-hunt-on-national-trust-landPlease politely ask Patrick Begg, who oversees the National Trust's hunting policy, why assault, trespass, convictions for illegal hunting and illegally hunting through people's gardens isn't enough to turn down a licence application at patrick.begg@nationaltrust.org.uk.#strengthenthehuntingact
Posted by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs on Monday, January 22, 2018
On Saturday the Warwickshire Hunt hunted around Meon Hill and Admington. Every time we go to the Warwickshire Hunt at the moment we are seeing foxes being chased. Continue reading →
Warwickshire Hunt invade gardens
WARWICKSHIRE HUNT INVADE HOMES AND GARDENSWarwickshire Hunt – Saturday 13th January – OxhillThe Warwickshire Hunt rampaged through the village of Oxhill in Warwickshire on Saturday as they hunted a fox through peoples back gardens. It was down to saboteurs to intervene and stop the hounds from hunting the fox. Earlier in the day saboteurs had already had to stop the hounds after they were spotted chasing a fox near Epwell. Again members of the hunt did nothing to stop the hounds. We’ve been contacted by many local residents since the incident who are all upset and angry at what happened. We have put them in touch with Hounds Off who deal with hunt trespass. One local resident told us that one of the hounds even managed to get inside her house:“I have just had an altercation with Warwickshire hunt at my property where not only did a massive fox hound get into my garden but also entered my house where my 6 month old baby is on the floor in a baby walker, thankfully we got to her before it did we have reported it to the police and I am waiting for the officer to attend now, I am shaken and beyond furious !Their arrogant behaviour and incompetence at controlling the pack has left me fuming, I can’t bare to even speak to the hunt master who obviously thinks that my home, a haven for my children, is fair hunting ground for their hounds to come and go freely with complete disregard for the safety of my children including a 6 month old baby”There is no reason that hounds from the Warwickshire Hunt would be in people's homes and gardens except that they were illegally hunting a fox. This incident highlights the arrogance of this hunt who obviously think they are above the law and can do what they like where they like with complete disregard for people's private property. Luckily West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs were on hand to stop the hounds from chasing the fox and get the hounds out of the gardens. Local residents are understandably upset and angry at this incident, they could have had pet rabbits or cats out in the gardens. We’ve been calling for the Hunting Act to be strengthened for a while now but this incident shows that fox hunts have very little control over their hounds and that strengthening the Hunting Act is the very minimum that needs to happen. As long as packs of hounds are allowed to roam freely round the countryside there will always be a danger to both wildlife and people. Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/westmidlandhuntsabs
Posted by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs on Sunday, January 14, 2018
Warwickshire Hunt – Saturday 13th January – Oxhill
The Warwickshire Hunt rampaged through the village of Oxhill in Warwickshire on Saturday as they hunted a fox through peoples back gardens. Continue reading →
**WARWICKSHIRE HUNT ATTACKS SAB**On Thursday 9th November members of West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs were monitoring the Warwickshire Hunt who were hunting in Birdingbury, Warwickshire. The hunt were becoming increasingly annoyed at not being able to hunt properly and were filmed going through a list of contacts and then making some phone calls. Not long after these phone calls two aggressive hunt supporters turn up and approach the two sabs.One of them then hits one of the cameras before hitting the female saboteur in the face. When her back is turned on him he starts shoving her and then pushes her to the ground. He then lashes out at her again. When she challenges him about him hitting her he doesn't deny it and can he can be heard saying “you can hit me if you want I don’t give a f***” Back on the road one hunt supporter apologies and says “that should never have happened” and then agrees that despite their differences the saboteurs have never been violent towards them. When asked if it's acceptable to hit women, a female hunt supporter says “your not a woman, you're a monster” and “that’s nothing” referring to the blood coming from the saboteurs eyeFox hunting is a violent activity and it is only a short leap from using violence towards animals to using violence against people. Just like they try to justify their violence towards foxes by vilifying them as pests they try to justify their violence towards us by calling us monsters. They know we are non-violent and even admit to us that we’ve never been violent to them which shows that this was a completely unprovoked attack. We ask the question who are the real monsters here?”One of our cameras was damaged as a result of this attack if you're able to donate towards a new one please use the link belowhttps://www.paypal.me/westmidlandhuntsabsThanks very much for all the kind messages of support. We will keep you updated on this incident
Posted by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs on Saturday, November 11, 2017
Former Warwickshire Hunt director Tony Ellis has admitted to assaulting a female hunt saboteur after the incident was caught on camera. Warwickshire police have issued him with a caution.
**WARWICKSHIRE HUNT ATTACKS SAB**On Thursday 9th November members of West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs were monitoring the Warwickshire Hunt who were hunting in Birdingbury, Warwickshire. The hunt were becoming increasingly annoyed at not being able to hunt properly and were filmed going through a list of contacts and then making some phone calls. Not long after these phone calls two aggressive hunt supporters turn up and approach the two sabs.One of them then hits one of the cameras before hitting the female saboteur in the face. When her back is turned on him he starts shoving her and then pushes her to the ground. He then lashes out at her again. When she challenges him about him hitting her he doesn't deny it and can he can be heard saying “you can hit me if you want I don’t give a f***” Back on the road one hunt supporter apologies and says “that should never have happened” and then agrees that despite their differences the saboteurs have never been violent towards them. When asked if it's acceptable to hit women, a female hunt supporter says “your not a woman, you're a monster” and “that’s nothing” referring to the blood coming from the saboteurs eyeFox hunting is a violent activity and it is only a short leap from using violence towards animals to using violence against people. Just like they try to justify their violence towards foxes by vilifying them as pests they try to justify their violence towards us by calling us monsters. They know we are non-violent and even admit to us that we’ve never been violent to them which shows that this was a completely unprovoked attack. We ask the question who are the real monsters here?”One of our cameras was damaged as a result of this attack if you're able to donate towards a new one please use the link belowhttps://www.paypal.me/westmidlandhuntsabsThanks very much for all the kind messages of support. We will keep you updated on this incident
Posted by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs on Saturday, November 11, 2017
On Thursday 9th November members of West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs were monitoring the Warwickshire Hunt who were hunting in Birdingbury, Warwickshire. Whilst they were filming the hounds two male hunt supporters approached the saboteurs and became increasingly aggressive. One of them then hits one of the cameras before punching the female saboteur in the face. When her back is turned on him he starts shoving her and then pushes her to the ground. When she challenges him about him hitting her he can be heard saying “you can hit me if you want, I don’t give a f***”
Tyres slashed by Atherstone supporter
Atherstone Hunt Opening Meet 1/11/16LONE FEMALE HUNT SABS TYRES SLASHEDDuring the Atherstone Hunts opening meet of the main fox hunting season a lone female hunt sab came across the huntsman and hounds hunting very close to the A444 in Leicestershire. It was clear a fox had just run across the busy road and down into a badger sett on the other side as the hounds were about to run across the road and into on coming traffic. Whilst trying to prevent the hounds running onto the busy road the dash-cam inside the females sabs vehicle recorded regular Atherstone Hunt supporter and Ex-Policeman Jon Hadfield walking across the road straight over to the vehicle and taking a penknife out of his pocket. The footage on the sabs handheld camera then shows him to be the only person anywhere near the vehicle. When the sab gets nearer to the vehicle a loud hissing sound can be heard. The front passenger tyre quickly deflated after being stabbed multiple times all around the side. The incident has been reported to Leicestershire Police. If any members of the general public were on the a444 at this time and witnessed anything pls pm us. Thanks.Please help towards our costs of buying a new tyre https://www.paypal.me/westmidlandhuntsabs
Posted by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs on Tuesday, November 1, 2016
On 1st November 2016 during the Atherstone Hunts opening meet a vehicle belonging to a member of West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs had its front tyre repeatedly stabbed. Continue reading →
Serious violence from the Atherstone Hunt
**MORE VIOLENCE FROM THE ATHERSTONE HUNT**Please like and share**Hunt supporter punches sabs in face and shoves them down a ditch**Then rides them down on his quad bikeJust a week after a meeting in which the Atherstone Hunt joint-masters told off all their supporters for continued bad behaviour and warned them not to assault or abuse saboteurs, sabs are badly assaulted by the Atherstone Hunt. https://www.facebook.com/WestMidsHuntSabs/videos/1206387039506368/Sabs were peacefully filming the hunt when an angry supporter / farmer who had been watching the hunt sped up to them on his quad bike and immediately started throwing punches. One sab ends up in the hedge whilst another is shoved down a ditch. He continues lashing out at anyone near him. Sabs began walking away from him and back to the road to diffuse the situation only for the angry hunt supporter to begin riding them down on his quad bike. One Sab is hit and ends up in the ditch, once out of the ditch however the quad is driven into him again at speed. The sab was thrown into the ditch and luckily escaped any serious injuries. However it could have been a different story especially if the quad had not stopped and landed on top of the sab in the ditch. The person in question is a known Atherstone Hunt supporter who was filmed last year running at sabs with an iron bar. Leicestershire Police were informed of this previous incident but decided to take no further action… https://www.facebook.com/WestMidsHuntSabs/videos/988138277997913/The threats of violence continued back on the road as other hunt supporters joined in. One supporter tried to snatch a camera whilst another issued death threats. To round it all off one Atherstone follower threatened to flash his penis….So the Atherstone Hunts new policy is in tatters but we are not surprised, no matter how many final warnings this hunt are given the Atherstone Hunt will not and can not change. We wait to see how the MFHA deals with this one…Elsewhere the huntsman again struggled to keep the hounds under control whilst a group of riders lead by one of the joint-masters surrounded the sab vehicle before riding their horses into the path of the vehicle in an attempt to make it look like the sab was driving into them. Extremely dangerous for the horse and rider. This behaviour was led by the same joint-master who can be heard in their recent meeting warning the rest of the hunt not to engage with or abuse the antis. If the masters can't follow their own advice then there is no hope for the rest of the hunt. A separate video of this incident will followOnce the Atherstone Hunt had finished we came across the North Warwickshire Beagles who were in the same area. Upon seeing us they immediately exited the field they were in and packed up. A separate report on this will follow. Thank you to Atherstone Hunt Watch who joined and helped usThank you to everyone who has recently donated https://www.paypal.me/westmidlandhuntsabsYou can also set up a standing order with us. sort code-089299 account no-65488120
Posted by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs on Sunday, October 15, 2017
Saboteurs punched in face and pushed into ditch then ridden down by angry hunt supporter Continue reading →