Fox hunting – despite being banned almost 20 years ago, it’s still causing a headache in Cumbria.
The Hunting Act 2004 outlawed the hunting of mammals with hounds, but it didn’t stop hunt groups meeting or going on trail hunts using scents like fox urine or aniseed.
Normally, when fox hunting is tackled by the media, it’s usually in terms of hunts chasing foxes illegally – but there’s a whole other reason why it’s causing problems in Cumbria.
The county has a very long tradition and history of hunting and has several packs which meet regularly. But one group of West Cumbrian landowners are claiming hunt members are committing trespass – and they want it to stop.
We’re not talking about lords of the manor here either – these are everyday people who own a piece of land.
Between them, Landowners Against Hunting with Dogs own around 700 acres and they don’t want any hunting packs venturing across it.
The group was set up in May last year and with the help of a barrister, they have written directly to the hunts.
They hoped the letter would put an end to trespass and sought an injunction from the courts if incidents were to continue.
But so far, they claim the letter has not had an effect.
Darren Ward, an architect from Cockermouth, and Kevin Scott, a wildlife officer from Lorton, are members.
Kevin, who owns a small patch of land near Cockermouth, said: “Darren and some others organised the group because we just don’t want the hunt on our land. But we are ignored.
“We are anti-foxhunting as a group but it is primarily about them respecting us as landowners.
“We don’t know how we can be more vocal about it we don’t know why the National Trust aren’t more vocal about it as a lot of the hunts go onto their land.
“Why should we as landowners be dealing with this instead of the police?”
But it’s a tricky issue – while increasingly frustrated landowners are dialling 999 when they spot trespassing taking place, it is actually a civil matter.
Kevin said: “It’s like we have no rights, we write to them every year and get ignored every time.
“We always think why this trespass is not considered arrestable when police can immediately arrest Just Stop Oil protestors?”
It’s a complex area of the law filled with loopholes and without detailed photographic or video proof of hunts trespassing, the police are unable to engage.
Cumbria Constabulary’s rural crime lead Chief Inspector Lee Skelton said: “Trespass is not a crime, so we would not generally attend.
“However, if there are aggravating circumstances, or possible offences taking place then this would be attended accordingly.
“We would have to prove a persistent course of conduct and/or aggravated circumstances.
“In respect of any reports, we seek to obtain as much evidence as possible to support an investigation.
“Our force wildlife crime officers – as part of ongoing reports – have met with affected landowners and liaised directly with hunts to set expectations.”
But Kevin said: “It should not be down to private landowners. It should be the police who are dealing with these people.
“But they always need extreme details and photographs for evidence – I always feel like saying, do you need picture evidence of a burglary? It needs to be made harder for trespassing huntsmen to operate.
“The law as it stands is just too weak.”
Cumbria police said that if illegal fox hunting was reported, it would also consider offences under the Public Order Act and the Hunting Act, and potential offences of criminal damage.
Kevin added that he felt change was sorely needed to make a difference to the trespassing.
Kevin said: “The general public don’t understand that these incidents are not isolated. They think it has all just been banned – but these people are still coming onto our land.
“People don’t understand what is going on. We need the police to show more interest than they currently do.
“I don’t think the huntsmen would like it if we trespassed in their back gardens. It’s a similar thing.
“I think the police need to enforce the law and the hunts need to find somewhere they’re welcome to do it.”
Cumbria Crack approached the Countryside Alliance to contribute to this article specifically to talk about the trespass issue, but the organisation declined the offer to take part.
Ch Insp Skelton added: “Cumbria Constabulary continue to take reports of illegal fox hunting seriously and continue to liaise with both affected landowners and member of hunts to ensure any fox hunting activity is consistent with expectations of the Hunting Act.”
