For all our non-Uk friends, please refer to the link given below and see the reality of the British Hunt in this present day.  Three video clips are shown.

February 18, 2009

Hunts hit back at thug claims

WARNING! Videos contain explicit language.

Hunts use thuggery to intimidate anti-hunt monitors and prevent them getting evidence of illegal hunting.

Videos can be viewed at

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/news/Hunts-hit-thug-claims/article-706391-detail/article.html

That was the claim made by Somerset monitors as the League Against Cruel Sports stepped up its campaign and marked the fourth anniversary of the ban on hunting with dogs.

The Countryside Alliance (CA) quickly dismissed the claims, and also used the anniversary to unveil its newest member, the former boss of the League Against Cruel Sports.

James Barrington has long been a convert from the anti to the pro camp, but had been a founder of the Middle Way Group which aimed to find a compromise between the two sides. Now, however, the hunting expert has joined the CA, completing a journey right across the intractable debate.

He has joined the CA as an animal welfare consultant and accused his former allies in the anti-hunting camp of getting the hunt ban wrong, and of creating a law of sheer nonsense.

Meanwhile, the League group of which he used to be director issued a new compilation of footage taken by two of its hunt monitors in Somerset, showing the abuse it claims they receive from hunters on a regular basis.

Helen Weeks and Graham Forsyth, among other hunt monitors, took the footage which reveals huntsmen and followers abusing, threatening and, in a couple of cases, assaulting them as they tried to film the hunt’s activities.

Last week, on the basis of some of the footage, huntsman Christopher Marles was convicted of assaulting Helen Weeks, and will be sentenced next month.

League chief executive Douglas Batchelor said: “In releasing this new footage, the League is highlighting that the issue is not just with illegal hunting under the Hunting Act, nor the negative impacts on animal welfare.

“Instead the problems include thuggery and intimidation carried out by hunters and hunt havoc caused by out- of-control hounds.

“These incidents can range from monitors being routinely abused or attacked, to family pets being mauled and killed when hunt hounds go on the rampage.

“The League has recently employed a retired police officer to give further expertise in prosecuting these offences.

“The footage reveals some of the worst behaviour carried out by huntsmen and women, the so-called gentry of the countryside. Some of this footage is extremely disturbing and we think the public will be shocked when they see exactly what goes on when some hunts get together.

“The gang-like mentality of some extremists, along with the bullying behaviour is simply not acceptable in any sector of society. It’s time the true colours of these people were exposed for all to see.”

The CA dismissed the footage and said Christopher Marles had been banned from going hunting in the wake of his conviction. In heralding its new recruit, the CA said Mr Barrington had made a remarkable journey across the hunting spectrum.

Alliance chief executive Simon Hart said: “Four years after the Hunting Act came into force, the question is when, not if, it will be repealed.

“We are thrilled James has agreed to work with us to achieve that goal. He is a remarkable man who has made a remarkable journey and no one could question his commitment to animal welfare.”

Mr Barrington said he joined the Alliance because he had come to the conclusion it was the only way to best get the hunt ban repealed.

“Working with the Countryside Alliance seems like a logical progression as the Hunting Act has been revealed as pointless and damaging to animal welfare,” he said.

“My ex-colleagues in the anti-hunting movement are increasingly frustrated by the failure of the Act, but it is their law. After literally decades of campaigning, millions of pounds spent and numerous Bills and debates, they got it wrong.

“They now expect the police and the courts to sort out this mess. If only some of the many other animal welfare issues, such as the plight of primates in Africa or dog farming in China, could attract such attention. The Act is sheer nonsense and I cannot understand or accept the proposition that it even addresses the issue of animal welfare.”

Anti-hunt campaigners disagreed, saying the only problem with the Act was that it needed better enforcement from the police and the courts. The League pointed that 63 prosecutions had been made and another 18 were pending.

An Early Day Motion has recently been tabled at Westminster, calling for better enforcement of the Act and has been signed by more than 130 MPs so far.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/news/Hunts-hit-thug-claims/article-706391-detail/article.html

North West Hunt Saboteurs Association
PO Box 239
Manchester
M14 7XB

07960 038230
www.nwhsa.org.uk
info@nwhsa.org.uk

Direct Action Against All Forms of bloodsports

Anti-Hunt organisation ‘League Against Cruel Sports (LACS)

http://www.league.org.uk/index.asp

FOR FOX SAKE, BAN HUNTING !

Above – ONE REASON WHY THE UK BAN ON HUNTING WILD ANIMALS SHOULD CONTINUE – FOREVER !! 

Picture – Fox after being Hunted – Kent, England, 1994.

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