The David Cameron UK government has, despite massive public opposition; moved ahead with the next phase of killing badgers in the UK. As you will read from our past posts, the first part of the ‘trials’ was a complete and utter fiasco; costing millions of UK pounds to undertake.
A few of our SAV posts on the first ‘trial’ are as follows:
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/07/03/england-badger-cull-kills-over-2000-animals-and-finds-just-one-case-of-btb-oh-at-a-cost-to-uk-taxpayers-of-8-million/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2013/10/17/england-badger-update-now-badgers-to-be-gassed-pro-hunt-paterson-and-cameron-go-from-farce-to-shambles-to-inept-but-conveniently-stay-as-multi-millionaires-we-are-all-in-thi/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2013/09/15/england-badger-cull-update-no-badgers-tested-for-bovine-tb-but-tests-are-to-see-if-badgers-can-be-shot/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/07/15/uk-finally-minister-owen-paterson-is-sacked-climate-change-badger-live-export-bee-and-animal-welfare-campaigners-celebrate-big-time/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/03/29/uk-england-pack-your-bags-and-move-on-now-paterson-you-are-the-biggest-waste-of-public-money-come-clean-you-were-wrong-stop-all-future-culls/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/03/16/england-mps-vote-250-to-1-against-further-badger-killing-but-will-cameron-and-the-government-listen-to-all-the-expert-advice-or-simply-do-as-they-wish/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/02/28/england-uk-badger-welfare-groups-1-uk-government-experts-0-the-farce-that-is-known-as-the-badger-cull-trials-of-2013/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/01/17/england-uk-government-data-on-bovine-tb-to-justify-badger-cull-was-exaggerated/
https://serbiananimalsvoice.com/2014/01/05/england-uk-badger-cull-cost-4100-per-badger-claim-campaigners/
This secomnd phase ‘trial’ is simply a plan to obtain votes from farmers and landowners; as the UK holds a General Election in May 2015, and the current Conservative is not poular with so many UK residents. It needs to show farmers and landowners it is attempting to do something about BTB; in order to gain more support for the coming election.
But as we say – 
New trails, which basically involves shooting the badgers; is taking place in the English counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset. Gloucestershire and Somerset are trying to trap and shoot badgers as part of a controlled study into the spread of tuberculosis in cattle.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/uk/news/2014_09_11/Resumption-of-badger-cull-must-be-politically-motivated-says-Humane-Society-1358/
*** News Update 10/9/2014*** –
Campaigners have won the right to appeal over a ruling on the legality of the latest badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire, which began on Monday. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29150655
Last month the Badger Trust lost a High Court bid after arguing “controlled shooting” should only take place with independent observers overseeing it.
Lord Justice Maurice Kay said the trust had some arguable points and the appeal may have a real prospect of success.
Check out the following for more information and recent news on the new phase of the cull:
http://voiceofrussia.com/uk/news/2014_09_11/Resumption-of-badger-cull-must-be-politically-motivated-says-Humane-Society-1358/
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/09/badger-cull-starts-somerset-gloucestershire-tb
http://www.hsi.org/world/united_kingdom/work/badgers/tips/badgers_action_toolkit.html?utm_source=Adwords&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=Grants
Other UK Hunt News Snippets
David Cameron (UK Prime Minister) is believed to be working with the police and security services to see how they can best stop Hunt Saboteurs from making hunts obey the law. It would be cheaper, easier and better if they just told their friends in the hunts to hunt legally or not hunt at all. Does anyone listen to the Archers? They have been banging on about the new hunting season, getting non supporters to think again and think about the “tradition”.
Current UK hunting situation
All hunters claim to be only ever hunting legally. They claim that anything they are seen to do that might appear otherwise is only evidence of an accident. Anyone who has seen hunting in the UK in recent years will know the truth. Mink hunting is in full swing with the hunters using a variety of excuses to justify their activities. Because of the protection afforded to the otter – and the welcome return of otters to our rivers – it is hard to see how any riverside hunting with hounds can be legal. Hunt saboteur groups across the country are struggling to contain this blood sports menace that could continue through to Oct. Stag hunting is underway on and around Exmoor and the Quantocks. The hunters use a variety of excuses to justify their hunting of red deer – at this time of year they hunt “autumn stags”. With the crops rapidly being harvested fox hunting is now underway with dawn starts for the traditional cub hunting. Under severe pressure from hunt saboteur groups determined to enforce the Hunting Act it is likely that many hunts will use the ploy of going cub hunting late in the afternoon rather than the early morning. Whenever they hunt they will be very secretive. Hunt Saboteurs were in action on Sat 23rd Aug at a cub hunting meet of the Berkeley foxhounds. In a morning that finished at 9am sabs ensured that the law was obeyed. As with fox hunting, when the crops are in the hare hunters will be looking to start – again for the first few weeks very early in the morning. We are now going on to full guard against hare coursing in East Anglia. When hunters are challenged as to why, if they are only trail hunting, they still have crack of dawn starts they offer 2 main explanations: firstly that in summer the scent is better in the early morning; secondly that they are trying to maintain hunting traditions. Tip for Hunt Saboteurs – Don’t be too quick to give away your real identity to hunters. It is easy for a few to dress as ramblers, farm-workers, or even other hunt supporters. Hunters like the 2 sides to be clearly defined – the hunt and the anti-hunt. When there are some on the scene whose true allegiance is questionable it unsettles the hunters. But make sure that all the hunt saboteurs know who you are! Mike Huskisson – ACIG
ACIG is the Suffolk, England based Animals Cruelty Investigation Group – check them out at: http://www.acigawis.org.uk/
Boost in fight against illegal hunting
The League Against Cruel Sports announced plans for a major boost in its fight against animal cruelty after its evidence led to the Crown Prosecution Service authorising criminal proceedings against members of 2 hunt groups. Welcoming the news, Chief Exec Joe Duckworth said the League would now boost its investigations of illegal hunting further with a major public appeal for information relating to illegal hunting to help catch individuals responsible for inflicting cruelty to animals. As an added incentive, in certain circumstances the charity will also offer a reward of up to £1,000 for information which directly leads to a conviction under the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales, or the Protection of Wild Mammals Act 2002, in Scotland. Joe Duckworth commented “Polling shows that the public are overwhelmingly opposed to cruelty to animals in the name of sport and they support the Hunting Act which came into force 10 years ago. “Based on our evidence, 9 summonses have been issued this year alone under the Hunting Act and we are now giving members of the public a chance to play their part in helping to end that cruelty. “Our work relies on good intelligence such as when and where illegal hunting is taking place, and details of the individuals involved. We are appealing to anyone that may have information that could help us investigate this criminal activity and bring the perpetrators to justice.” The charity’s team of investigators work to capture evidence of this, in order to bring prosecutions against those who continue to hunt wild animals for sport in defiance of the hunt ban. Members of the public with information relating to hunting activities are being urged to report it via crimewatch@league.org.uk, the charity’s website using the online form or by calling the confidential Wildlife Crimewatch line on 01483 361 108. Any criminal activity should also be reported to the Police on 101. All information will be treated in complete confidence. Master and Huntsman of the Middleton Hunt, Tom HOLT faces a charge of Hunting a Wild Mammal with Dogs at West Knapton, Malton, N. Yorkshire, on 19th Feb 2014. He appeared at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on 3rd Sept. and there is a case management hearing on 25th Sept Kennel Huntsman of the Middleton Hunt, Barry Lee ANDREWS faces a charge of Interfering with a Badger Sett near Bossall, N. Yorkshire, on 12th March 2014. The case is to be heard at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on 12th Sept 2014. Paul WHITEHEAD, Huntsman of the Lunesdale Foxhounds Ltd, faces a charge of Hunting a Wild Mammal with Dogs on 18th Feb 2014. Terence POTTER, who is a Company Director of the Lunesdale Foxhounds Ltd, faces a similar charge on behalf of the company as a body corporate, under the provisions of Section 10. Summonses have been issued and the case is to be heard at Skipton Magistrates’ Court on 19th Sept 2014. The case is based on evidence supplied to the police by the League Against Cruel Sports.
Check out the League (LACS) at: http://www.league.org.uk/
Master & Huntsman charged
3 members of the College Valley and N. Northumberland Hunt, including the Joint Master and Huntsman, have been charged with illegally hunting a fox. Joint Master, Timothy Wyndham Basil Smalley, Huntsman, Ian Robert McKie and Kennel Huntsman, Andrew John Proe, are each charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs, contrary to Sec 1 of the Hunting Act 2004. The case is based on evidence supplied by the League Against Cruel Sports and further investigations carried out by Northumbria Police, in relation to an incident alleged to have taken place during an advertised hunt meet at West Kyloe Farm, near Lowick, Northumberland on 27th Feb 2014. All 3 defendants have pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges. The case has been listed for trial at Berwick Magistrates’ Court on Mon 13th & Tues 14th Oct.
The terrierman of the York and Ainsty South Fox Hunt, and 2 other men, have been charged with interfering with a badger sett. The charges stem from an incident in Dec 2013 when members of Sheffield and Doncaster hunt saboteurs came upon the men digging out a fox at Escrick Park, near Selby N. Yorkshire, whilst following the hunt. The sabs managed to save the fox despite having to defend themselves from violence from a large group of hunt supporters. The sabs reported the incident to N. Yorkshire Police who took statements before charging the men. UPDATE: The CPS has dropped all charges just 2 days before the trial. This is despite damning video evidence, witnesses, and the badger sett having been declared in use by badgers, by an independent expert (on behalf of N. Yorkshire Police).
4 jailed for fox death
4 men who filmed a dog brutally mauling a fox to death as they stood by and encouraged it have been jailed for animal cruelty offences. They claimed to be “rabbiting”. District Judge Bridgette Knight slammed the attack as “barbaric and medieval in its wickedness” while the RSPCA described the men as “thugs of the countryside”. John Daly, of Breeze Hill, Reece Welsh, of Sunbourne Rd, & Ryan Kennedy, of Townsend Ave Liverpool, and Daniel Ratchford, of St Wilfreds Rd, Wigan, were jailed for their roles in the incident after each pleaded guilty to animal cruelty offences. The horrific video captured a fox screaming in pain as a lurcher shakes it around in its mouth, while other terrier-type dogs and the group of men look on. None of the defendants had stepped in to stop the fox being attacked, and that mobile phones had also been placed down badger setts. Locator collars, dog cages and spades had also been found in the van the group had arrived in. The men were charged with offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and admitted their guilt earlier this year. Daly was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison for the suffering caused to his dog, plus a further 4 weeks for each of the charges of interfering with a badger sett. Welsh was sentenced to a total of 16 weeks in prison. Kennedy and Ratchford were both sentenced to 12 weeks. Each of the men will serve half of their sentences and must pay £200 to the RSPCA to help toward the £25,000 cost of the investigation. They have been disqualified from keeping, or being involved in the care and transportation, of dogs for life. District Judge Knight said there was “overwhelming evidence” that badger setts had been interfered with, adding that the 6-month maximum prison term for that offence was “perhaps something Parliament should consider looking at again”.
Harecoursers convicted – 4 men, 3 from E. Yorks and the other from Durham, were convicted at Skegness Magistrates Court of hare coursing and were excluded from entering Lincolnshire with any dog for 2 years from Aug 29. The men were also fined from £260 up to £586
TO Continue to Fight the Cull
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