New figures from the Government confirm that hundreds of hours of police time and thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money have been wasted in Yorkshire on the Hunting Act.
Justice Minister Claire Ward confirmed today in a Parliamentary Answer to a question from York MP Hugh Bayley that there were no prosecutions and no convictions in the area between the law coming into force in February 2005 and the end of 2007.
Steve Clark, Countryside Alliance Regional Director for Yorkshire, said: "There are 31 registered packs of hounds in Yorkshire, which account for approximately 1150 hunting days each year, many of which are attended by police officers. There are a small number of animal rights activists who continue to make allegations about the activities of hunts which, however groundless, have to be investigated.
"In addition to the figures produced by the Government we can confirm that there have been no prosecutions or convictions involving registered hunts since 2007 and none are pending.
"There can be no clearer indication of the pointlessness of the Hunting Act than the fact that Yorkshire Police Officers are having to waste time on this unworkable law which could be spent tackling real crime like drug dealing and burglary in our cities and towns. Today's figures are yet another good reason for Hugh Bayley and every other MP in Yorkshire to vote to get rid of this failed legislation at the first opportunity".
