As we are in the fourth hunting season since the historic ban, there is no doubt that the Hunting Act is working, despite what the pro-hunting lobby would like us to believe.
With an excess of 30 convictions and a number of cases still in the pipeline, the legislation is proving robust and effective in bringing to justice the hunters, who believe themselves to be above the law.
Indeed, we are starting to see a more
active involvement from the appropriate authorities with several cases being brought by the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service rather than as a result of private prosecutions.
In light of the boast of hunting being more popular than ever, I would draw attention to a recent IPSOS Mori poll, commissioned in September 2008, that revealed that 75 per cent of the British public support the Hunting Act with 71 per cent support in rural areas.
It is thus of little surprise that many hunts have taken their activities 'underground' so to speak.
Those, who want to kill for fun and gain pleasure from causing great suffering to innocent, defenceless animals have had to become secretive about their activities in the same way as those who participate in illegal dog fighting, badger-baiting and poaching, their now having to carry out their cruel pastime away from prying eyes.
Kenn Swallow, by e-mail
