Five hunt saboteurs became the first people to be charged under the Criminal Justice Act on Saturday when they were arrested during the Woodland Pytchley Hunt at Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire.
The five, two of whom are students at Cambridge, were charged with aggravated trespass under section 68 of the Act, which came into force at midnight on Wednesday. They were released on bail after eight hours in custody.
The arrests were made shortly after 11am when the hunt moved off from its meet at Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire. Around 25 saboteurs from the Cambridge Anti-Blood Sports Society clashed with 30 riders and a number of followers on foot.
The first to be arrested was Jamie Shaw, a Cambridge University student. He and a fellow student, Tim Spencer, were arrested for blowing hunting horns. Three more saboteurs were arrested after climbing a tree and blowing whistles to distract the hunt.
Mr Spencer said: "This was a non-violent protest against a barbaric practice. We will take our case to the European Court of Human Rights."
