Activists attacked as hunt breaches the law
SABS | 24.11.2005 21:36 | Animal Liberation | South Coast
Anti-hunting activists claim that on Saturday 19 November 2005, the Ropley based Hampshire Hunt were chasing a fox in breach of the Hunting Act which was supposed to outlaw such activities. The incident happened near the village of Selborne. One protestor said "A woman came running up to our vehicle and said 'the fox went that way through my garden'. She mistakenly thought we were with the hunt, until hunt employees and supporters arrived and told her to keep quiet. Hounds from the hunt were in cry - the noise they make when they are on the scent of a fox - and it was clear to us that they were hunting that animal."
The protestors attempted to film the action, hoping that it would provide evidence for a prosecution or prompt the hunt to call the hounds off. One protestor explained "We used to use horn calls and sprays to stop the hounds, but recently just pointing a video camera at them has been enough for the hunt to stop the hounds themselves. Today was different. They decided it would be far easier to turn on us."
Supporters of the hunt
a.. blocked the road
b.. rammed their quad bikes into the group's land rover
c.. issued various threats to "track people down"
d.. attempted to steal a video camera
e.. started dragging a woman from the back of the vehicle
The police were called and told that there was a clear breach of the Hunting Act taking place, and that people were being attacked. Their control centre claims a car was sent out but none of the activists saw it. Summing up, one of the protestors said "Last season there were as many as 30 police out to stop us even going down public rights of way to make sure the hunt could carry on killing unhindered. Now there are none out. If we had acted the way the hunt supporters have, we would have all been slung into the cells and up on serious public order charges. It really makes you wonder who is pulling whose strings. The solution to this problem is clear - we need to get more people out on the hunts. But you can bet that when the tables are turned the cowardly thugs will call the police and they will be swarming all over us."
Supporters of the hunt
a.. blocked the road
b.. rammed their quad bikes into the group's land rover
c.. issued various threats to "track people down"
d.. attempted to steal a video camera
e.. started dragging a woman from the back of the vehicle
The police were called and told that there was a clear breach of the Hunting Act taking place, and that people were being attacked. Their control centre claims a car was sent out but none of the activists saw it. Summing up, one of the protestors said "Last season there were as many as 30 police out to stop us even going down public rights of way to make sure the hunt could carry on killing unhindered. Now there are none out. If we had acted the way the hunt supporters have, we would have all been slung into the cells and up on serious public order charges. It really makes you wonder who is pulling whose strings. The solution to this problem is clear - we need to get more people out on the hunts. But you can bet that when the tables are turned the cowardly thugs will call the police and they will be swarming all over us."
SABS
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