I didn’t write an update last week, I was fairly busy at work and was also looking to see how certain issues developed before I made a comment.
One incident was the visit to the Atherstone by quite a few sab groups in response to the disgraceful behaviour of their support during a peaceful demonstration at the new years meet (see video below).
It would seem that this sort of thing is par for the course among hunt supporters but it’s certainly not the behaviour you would expect from a rational human being. Clearly Warwickshire police were hugely at fault here for not policing the event even though concerns had been raised well in advance. The incident is now being investigated by the same team who should have been on hand on the day. West Mids Sabs are urging people to complain, details below.
The investigation is being headed by Mitch Oakley whose team cover the Atherstone area. mitch.oakley@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk
Please direct all complaints / questions to the following:
Warwickshire Police
https://www.facebook.com/warwickshirepolice/?fref=ts
email nwe.snt@warwickshire.police.uk
The multi group hit on the Atherston was a huge success. With over 50 sabs arriving at the meet the hunt tried to put a brave face on things and claimed that due to the fog they wouldn’t be hunting that day, which was odd as all the other hunts in the midlands were out in the same weather. I guess we all know the real reason.
Another embarrassment for the Atherstone was the setting up of a funding page for the hunt who are clearly on their last legs financially if they have to start such enterprises in the first place, and once again the outcome was not what they hoped for. Multiple complaints to Just Giving informing them of a breach of funding rules resulted in the company pulling the page and refunding all the donations that had been made up to that date.
You would think that given the amount of negative publicity the Atherstone would be on their best behaviour however their desire to kill our wildlife is so strong it would seem to override all common sense as once again they killed fox on the drive of a house only yesterday (12/01/16) and my thoughts that go to those who had to witness such a gruesome event. These people really do need to be stopped and it is now time for the police forces in question to step up and take some positive action. Anyone else acting so consistently and blatantly would be dealt with in no uncertain terms regardless of the legislation.
Closer to home the well known hunt steward who assaulted me (Stuart Morris) finally admitted to the offence and accepted a police caution. While I think a caution is hardly likely to make this moron engage his brain before his fists next time (I’ve heard he’s already been bragging how he got away with it) at least the police did their job on the day (see video below). As you know I’ve been in contact with several forces in an effort to get things changed and I hope this will start to bear fruit. Our local hunt (The Oakley) seem to be quite miffed that the police are paying more interest in their activites whether sab groups are present or not. They are clearly rattled and uncomfortable at having the police around and not working their behest. I get the feeling that opinions within the local force are starting to change.
Our friends at Northants Sabs seem to also be making progress with Leicestershire police, a forces which I’ve been highly critical of in the past. Recent reports of their activities against the Belvoir Hunt have been positive where the police are concerned. Lets hope this is a concerted and lasting effort to change and not just a knee jerk reaction to public opinion.
The next logical step is for the police to take action against the violence from the support and stewards who have delusions of social standing within the hunting community. They are nothing more than tools (in more way than one) to be used and thrown away when they have no further use. I know Cambridgeshire police have been contacting the hunts in their areas regarding the employment of these neanderthals (to be honest that does neanderthals a disservice) and I urge all other forces who are graced with their presence to do the same and if they still appear then the use of the Section 35 would clearly by justified.
While the CA and Dim Bonner continue to make noises about the growth of hunting I believe this is nothing more than a desperate attempt to gain support from a dwindling fan base who are in turn becoming increasingly isolated and violent. While graphic images of hunts killing and their supporters acting like yobs continue to be plastered all over social media and the mainstream press there can realistically only be one outcome. While I don’t believe there is paradigm shift just yet I do believe as Winston Churchill once said: “This isn’t the beginning of the end, but it’s certainly the end of the beginning”.
No Way Back?
Posted: January 8, 2019 in CommentTags: Artificial Earth, Belvoir Hunt, Brian May, bTB, Countryside Alliance, Fox released to hounds, Hounds Killed, Hunting with Dogs Act 2004, Kimblewick Hunt, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Lord Gardnier of Kimble, Master of Foxhounds Association, MIddleton Hunt, New Years Day, Peter Egan, Pytchley Hunt, South Herefordshire Hunt, Team Fox, Terrier Men, Thame showground, Thurlow Hunt
So it would appear that once again a hunt has been caught red handed holding a fox in an artificial earth and then dragging it from the hole and throwing it in front of the hounds to be chased and killed for the enjoyment of their riders and followers. This time it was the Kimblewick, a hunt which recently killed 97 of it’s hounds due to being infected with bTB. A disease that has unnecessarily caused the deaths of ten’s of thousands of badgers due to the Governments pointless culling policy. The hunt is the plaything of Lord Gardiner of Kimble, a long time Tory who’s been secretary for various ministers and ex chief spin doctor for the so-called Countryside Alliance and now member of the House of Lords.
The incident took place on New Years Day, the meet was at the Thame showground and was claimed as one of the high points of the hunting calendar.
The full video can be seen below.
I don’t think the video needs any explanation here. The Times originally reported on this and it’s clearly going to be a story which isn’t going to go away any time soon and has even made BBC TV. Considering the Kimblewick’s recent history and their claims of being a “super hunt” (whatever that may be) this is certainly big news. Whether there will be any action with regards to prosecutions remains to be seen however even to the most myopic viewer the video is clear evidence of illegal hunting or at the very least the intent to hunt a wild mammal. The terrier men are clearly working under the instruction of the huntsman so one would assume “joint venture” could be worth considering from a legal standpoint.
This compelling evidence once again blows apart the myth that hunts are obeying the law and legally following a trail. What shouldn’t be understated is the frequency in which this takes place. Hunts up and down the country will have artificial earths in their territory and will maintain these in an effort to have foxes to hunt on any given hunt day. This is certainly nothing new or out of the ordinary. Fairly recently the South Herefordshire, the Middleton, the Pytchley, and the Belvoir have all been implicated in keeping foxes purely for the purpose of hunting.
What happened to the fox on New Years Day remains unknown.
The so-called CA and Dim Tim Bonner are certainly going to have a hard time talking their way out of this one especially as their Head of Hunting (Polly Portwin) pretty much lives next door to the Kimblewick kennels and rides with them although they’ll no doubt do their best. If the Masters of Foxhounds Association have any credibility whatsoever they will suspend the Kimblewick immediately and then expel them after their own investigation but let’s face it, what are the real chances of that?
You’re absolutely right Peter, let’s see some action for the authorities
The simple fact is that the hunting lobby like to promote this chocolate box image of hunting, the spectacle and the pomp and also that they somehow provide a service to farmers by controlling fox numbers, not that its even necessary. The truth is however vastly different and this is being shown time and again. Even in the face of such overwhelming evidence some hunt supporters are offering their own explanation which is, as you’d expect completely laughable.
Jo is clearly a master of fantasy fiction
Fox hunting (and all hunting with hounds) is nothing more than organised crime, an organised crime who’s product is cruelty to wildlife, enjoyed by a psychopathic minority who are prepared to pay for the privilege and will employ the lowest of the low to do their dirty work, be that digging out foxes or conducting violent operations against those who oppose them. The fact it is so deeply entrenched within the establishment means we are fighting a constant battle against those who wield both power and influence.
It’s time that changed.
ADDITIONAL
Below is an exert from a post on Facebook by Team Fox (Save Me Trust) run by Brian May. Let’s hope they are as good as their word if the authorities don’t hold the perpetrators to account.