Animal rights activists who launched a new campaign yesterday to ban hunting have secured the support of a growing number of MPs who want to outlaw the sport on private land.
Michael Howard, the Home Secretary, is proposing in the Criminal Justice Bill to give sweeping new powers to police to tackle hunt saboteurs, who will face fines or imprisonment if they trespass at hunts. However MPs from all sides are considering an amendment that would treat hunt supporters in the same way.
Tony Banks, Labour MP for Newham North West, said: “The amendment will be put down if we are going to have a situation where the Government seems to be siding heavily with the fox hunters. We have all had complaints about hunts which stampede over people’s land when they have been specifically told not to. There has to be some equity in the law.
“If there is a free vote we will win. There are a growing number of Tory MPs who are minded to persuade the Government that they want a free vote. We want to criminalise both sides, not just one.”
The MPs will put down amendments to the Bill on January 11 which would make “hunt trespass” a criminal offence. Hunts that enter property illegally, such as railways and roads, would be prosecuted for trespass.
If, as expected in some quarters, the Government allows a free vote, the hunt lobby could be in trouble. Tory MPs have told the Commons animal welfare group of their anxiety that the Government seems to be taking only one side of the hunting argument.
Mr Banks launched a poster campaign for the League Against Cruelty in London yesterday. The posters are aimed at the 14 out of 47 county councils that have not banned hunting on their land. More are expected to follow suit next year.
John Bryant, wildlife officer for the league, said: “We are on the threshold of a major change. We are becoming very excited about Michael Howard’s Bill. Hunts trespass regularly. I think hunt masters will resign in droves once they have got five or six convictions.
“We are hearing encouraging sounds from MPs from both sides. If there is a free vote I think we can win.” The police had anticipated possibly violent demonstrations at the traditional Boxing Day hunts yesterday and there were only isolated incidents.
One of the country’s most famous meets, the Hursley Hambledon in Hampshire, which traditionally has been held in Romsey on Boxing Day, was transferred on police advice because of the threat of disturbances.
Last year there was uproar when protesters filled the Market Place at Romsey. The meet was held at Meonstoke, about 30 miles from Romsey. The hunt is always welcomed into the Market Place to receive a stirrup cup from the mayor. The ceremony took place in Meonstoke instead.
Peter Voute, a spokesman for the British Field Sports Society, insisted that current trespass legislation covered hunts.
“It is because of what they fear in the Criminal Justice Bill, the power to fine and imprison saboteurs, that there were no problems. We encountered peaceful demonstrators with banners. No balaclavas or sticks. They don’t want any more difficulties with the Government. There have been no problems today,” he said.
“It is a great relief. We don’t object to peaceful demonstrations. We object to intimidation and violence.”
