Trail hunting 'loophole' closes amid criticism

Campaigners and an MP have welcomed a trail hunting ban announced by the government, but the move has been criticised by a hunt that has operated in Herefordshire for hundreds of years.

The government is banning the practice under an animal welfare strategy, amid claims trail hunting is a "smokescreen" for hunting wild animals.

Worcester's former Labour MP Mike Foster, who introduced the original bill to ban hunting, said it tightened a loophole.

Master of the Ledbury Hunt David Redvers hit out at the move saying it was like banning football because there was occasionally some hooliganism.

Mr Foster has previously talked about how he spearheaded the Hunting Act after drawing first place in a ballot for private members' bills.

The act became law on 18 February 2005, making it illegal to use dogs to chase foxes, deer, hares and other wild animals.

Trail hunting was a replacement, but critics argued it enabled hunts to continue killing foxes and hares.

With trail hunting, an animal-based scent trail is laid for dogs to follow rather than a real animal.

Campaigners called for a further alternative, which is to use a false or synthetic sent.

Mr Foster said: "The concept of trail hunting is used in a way that allows hounds to 'accidentally' follow the scent of live mammals.

"It's a sort of negligent way of continuing the practice that they had been doing, whilst being able to say they had no intention of chasing a fox or a hare."

The ex-MP described it as a "smokescreen or loophole", adding: "It just needs tightening up."

Mr Redvers said: "There have been cases undoubtedly in the last 20 years of lunatics who are still hellbent on digging out foxes and throwing them to dogs."

But he said: "This is like saying you're going to ban football matches because there's some hooliganism that goes on occasionally."

The Ledbury Hunt, on the Herefordshire/Gloucestershire border, traces its origins to 1846.

Emma Phipps, from Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, said: "We've put so much work in to raise awareness about the fact that wildlife – and it's not just foxes – are being affected by illegal hunting.

"It's great to see that that's being recognised."

But she said it was "a bit late", adding: "They've had 20 years, more than 20 years now, to decide to follow false scents and actually move away from killing wildlife."

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