League Against Cruel Sports labels Necton-based West Norfolk Hunt’s Boxing Day parade at Bawdeswell Hall ‘lame public relations exercise’
Animal welfare campaigners have branded plans for West Norfolk Hunt’s Boxing Day parade as a “lame public relations exercise which masks the hunt’s brutality”.
The campaigners, from the League Against Cruel Sports, have made the claims regarding Necton-based West Norfolk Hunt’s parade, which is set to take place at Bawdeswell Hall near Dereham today.
However, a spokesperson for the West Norfolk Hunt said its Boxing Day parade will see them welcome large crowds who wish to see the hounds, before carrying out lawful trail hunting activities – which they say can offer “many physical and mental health benefits”.
Hunting wild mammals with dogs was banned in England and Wales when the Hunting Act 2004 was introduced.
The law does allow trail hunting, which West Norfolk Hunt describes as a “sport where a scent-based trail is laid across miles of countryside, often with optional jumps or natural obstacles like streams or ditches”.
“Hounds are tasked by the huntsman to locate these trails and follow them which allows horse riders to enjoy the thrill of the chase in a modern and legal way,” it adds.
But Emma Judd, head of campaigns and communications at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The West Norfolk Hunt Boxing Day parade is nothing but a lame public relations exercise designed to cover up the reality of the harm they cause to wildlife and rural communities.
“They are attempting to mask that brutal reality, but their masks are slipping.”
She added: “No one really believes the hunts’ claims anymore that they are following trails when all the evidence points towards foxes being chased and killed.
“It’s time for change. It’s time for hunting laws to be strengthened in the UK so that the barbaric and sordid world of fox hunting is finally consigned to the history books.”
It also comes just months after Chief Superintendent Matt Longman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on fox hunting crime, described trail hunting as a “smokescreen for continuing illegal hunting” and suggested the Hunting Act 2004 was not fit for purpose.
In response to the League Against Cruel Sports’ comments, the West Norfolk Hunt spokesperson said: “The West Norfolk Hunt will be meeting on Boxing Day to welcome the large crowds that gather to see the hounds before we move off to carry out lawful trail hunting activities.
“It is important to recognise the many physical and mental health benefits that trail hunting can offer and that the West Norfolk Hunt plays an important role in the community.
“We will continue to preserve our hounds and heritage while complying with the Hunting Act, with full details about our trail hunting meets available on our website.”
And the Countryside Alliance, which campaigns for field sports including hunting, shooting and fishing, said that tens of thousands of people have supported Boxing Day meets over the years, which in turn support their rural communities.
“Figures presented by the League [against Cruel Sports] cannot be taken at face value and often consist of dubious reports from alleged members of the public, as well as spurious evidence gathered from social media,” a spokesperson said.
“Time and time again evidence from anti-hunting groups is proven to paint a false picture and lacks appropriate context.
“A recent independent review found anti-hunt activists regularly submit ‘heavily edited’ footage to police claiming it shows evidence of illegal hunting activity.”
The spokesperson added: “Across the country tens of thousands of people have come together to support local Boxing Day meets and in so doing, support their rural communities and many fragile local businesses.
“Trail hunting forms part of the backbone of rural life in Britain. That an obsessive group of activists could look at these scenes and want to see that way of life legislated against for political kicks is deeply disturbing.
“It took seven years, 700 hours of parliamentary time and a huge amount of political capital to get the Hunting Act onto the statute book.
“Any new legislation would be a pointless waste of time and create division in the countryside, the likes of which have not been seen since the last Labour Government passed the Hunting Act in 2004”.
