On the 5th of September Leicestshire Police will be holding a training day with the focus being on Hunting. They have held these training days previously and it is my understanding that anti-hunt groups have been represented in the past and shared their experiences of hunting. This is of course a good thing, however it would seem that all is not right.
If you didn’t read this story the first time it was published I suggest that you do so now.
The guest blog above is a well researched and written piece, it perfectly highlights what activist are up against in this country and how the Countryside Alliance are purely there to influence and cajole the police on how they deal with those who’s goal is to save the lives of illegally hunted animals and uphold the law in the face of huge provocation, intimidation and violence. The CA’s sole purpose is to subvert the law to their members benefit and create an opinion within the police force that monitors and sabs are nothing more than terrorists and trouble makers to be dealt with harshly and unfairly while all the time the real criminals can carry on flouting the law with impunity.
From my friends over at West Mids Hunt Sabs:
“Last year Philip Davies attended the National Police Chief Council conference where he did a 20 minute talk entitled “Hunting without Harassment” (nevermind that hunting is illegal) and in the talk he portrayed sabs as violent and dangerous criminals and pushed for the use of Section 35 anti-social behaviour dispersal orders and section 60AA powers.
Leicestershire Police need reminding that over the past three years the Atherstone Hunt and its associates have collected 20 convictions, cautions and community resolutions for violence and anti-social behaviour with possibly more to follow. 11 of these are convictions for assault. We on the other hand have none. Zero. We have not even been charged with anything. So quite clearly the violent dangerous criminals are the Atherstone Hunt. That is a fact.
The Atherstone Hunt has gained a lot of unwanted press for foxhunting over the past few years and because of this they are constantly looking at ways to get rid of us. However documenting and exposing illegal hunting is not a crime and neither is preventing any breaches of the Hunting Act.
Leicestershire Police should also remind themselves that the CA is a pressure group who want the Hunting Act repealed, an organisation who were behind the Hunting Declaration Day on 1st November 2003. This saw 50,000 hunt supporters publicly sign declarations that they would break any future law that banned hunting. How can a police force invite someone to an event whose organisation advocates breaking the law? And not just any law but one of laws being discussed at that meeting.
The Countryside Alliance is a dangerous organisation involved in organised crime and the promotion of violence and the breaking of the law. As such inviting them to this event will be legitimising criminality. It would be like inviting the mafia to assist and guide police officers on the issue of drug dealing”.
So what can you do?
Contact Leicestshire Police on Facebook: Click Here
Contact Chief Constable Simon Cole: Email – Twitter
Leicstershire PCC (Lord Willy Bach): Email – Twitter
Politely express your concerns over the inclusion of Philip Davies and why he shouldn’t be trying to influence policing for the benefit of criminals.
Consigned to History
Posted: October 9, 2019 in CommentTags: Atherstone Hunt, Fox Hunting, Hunt Saboteurs, hunt violence, Hunting Act, Leicestershire Police, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs
The Atherstone Hunt are finished.
George Whitemore – Atherstone Huntsman 1906
This is of course incredible news and testament to the dedication and perseverance of a small group of people who took it upon themselves to protect the wildlife that was routinely persecuted by this organised gang of criminals, often with the full support of the police.
Full statement from West Mids Hunt Sabs below:
After six long years of an unrelenting and unstoppable campaign by West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs the 200 year old Atherstone Hunt have finally thrown in the towel and folded.
We have faced harassment, extreme provocation and regular violence from those associated with the Atherstone Hunt. We’ve received death threats, had our tyres slashed, cars burnt out and have been hospitalized. We have also faced a hostile campaign of police harassment from Leicestershire Police who have actively sabotaged investigations against the Atherstone Hunt whilst constantly seeking to prosecute members of our group at all costs.
We persevered and never backed down. Despite the regular violence we have faced our campaign has always remained non-violent. Over the last six years we have sabbed almost every single meet of the Atherstone Hunt. They have collected over 20 criminal convictions and cautions for their violence and antisocial behaviour and at their worst they were making the national press every other month for their hunting and violence. As well as stopping them killing foxes twice a week every week we have been able to expose the real face of fox hunting.
We witnessed them kill numerous foxes in front of us but that only made us more determined. We exposed all businesses that supported them. We held demonstrations at their biggest events of the year and at all of their fundraising events.
For six years the Atherstone Hunt have been completely sabotaged and as a result they have now folded. This means that for now the 908 km² area of West Leicestershire and North Warwickshire are completely hunt free and hundreds of foxes lives will now have been saved
Ultimately the Hunting Act needs to be strengthened however we are not waiting around for politicians to change the law or corrupt police forces to enforce the law. Fox hunting is cruel and barbaric and has no place in the 21st century. Hunt saboteurs will shut hunts down one by one until hunting is consigned to history.
Our only concern remains the safety and welfare of the hounds. We have notified relevant authorities
We would like to thank all the different sab groups who have helped us and joined us in sabbing the Atherstone Hunt over the years. We would also like to thank all of you who have donated towards fuel and equipment costs over the years, all the kind words and encouragement and all the tip offs and information sent to us.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Dedicated to Leanne Bridgewater.
If I can put this achievement into some perspective take a look back at this blog post I wrote back in 2015 (see here). It’s a meet of the Atherstone. Look at the number of supporters alone.
It was a hunt of some significance. I can remember driving to the meet on that particular day and seeing a least a mile of parked up support vehicles on both sides of the road. The riding field was huge.
Not any more.
Trying to drum up support
Of course the hunting community are probably feeling a bit miffed right now to say the least. The FB page,This is Hunting UK are trying to rally support but the problem they have is a simple one. It’s impossible to promote hunting in a positive way to everyone when hunting is just a cruel and illegal minority pastime. The British public, by a vast majority no longer accept the lies spouted in an effort to save their sick little hobby.
This isn’t the first hunt to go to the wall, it certainly won’t be the last but the method in which this one was helped on it’s way should be considered a blueprint for others with the same goals.
To all those at West Mids Hunt Sabs – I salute you.
Finally I’d like to say “Hi” to Adrian Henson. I love it that you share my blog among your bumpkin friends online, it improves my figures! Did you like the one about the letter?
UPDATE: Comment from the hunt themselves on their FB page.