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| 'Thousands' attend UK fox hunts | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 200 hunts are meeting - nearly two years after hunting with hounds was outlawed in England and Wales, Countryside groups say. | |
| Under the ban, dogs can still be used to follow a scent - and foxes can be killed by a bird of prey or shot. | Under the ban, dogs can still be used to follow a scent - and foxes can be killed by a bird of prey or shot. |
| The League Against Cruel Sports said they were looking out for any illegal activity. | |
| But the Countryside Alliance said it was up to the police to enforce the law, not "vigilante pressure groups". | But the Countryside Alliance said it was up to the police to enforce the law, not "vigilante pressure groups". |
| Simon Hart from the alliance said such activity by anti-hunt groups was unacceptable. | Simon Hart from the alliance said such activity by anti-hunt groups was unacceptable. |
| "If you or I decided to stand at the side of a road with a homemade speed camera... we'd be hounded out of town for being vigilantes. | "If you or I decided to stand at the side of a road with a homemade speed camera... we'd be hounded out of town for being vigilantes. |
| "It is up to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to enforce the law in this country not a vigilante pressure group with a political motive." | "It is up to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to enforce the law in this country not a vigilante pressure group with a political motive." |
| The pro-hunting group estimates that as many as 250,000 people have turned out for the Boxing Day meets. | |
| 'Systematic law-breaking' | 'Systematic law-breaking' |
| League Against Cruel Sports spokesman Mike Hobday said when hunting with hounds was banned, in February 2005, most hunts acted within the law. | League Against Cruel Sports spokesman Mike Hobday said when hunting with hounds was banned, in February 2005, most hunts acted within the law. |
| But things had got progressively worse and currently a "significant" amount of law-breaking was taking place, he said. | But things had got progressively worse and currently a "significant" amount of law-breaking was taking place, he said. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I am just about to go out with dozens of other families to watch and cheer on the local hunt as they meet this morning Anthony Jeffrey, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I am just about to go out with dozens of other families to watch and cheer on the local hunt as they meet this morning Anthony Jeffrey, UK Send us your comments |
| "Systematic breaking of the law is a facet of hunting that is causing the police to be more concerned - more interested in what's happening." | "Systematic breaking of the law is a facet of hunting that is causing the police to be more concerned - more interested in what's happening." |
| He pledged to work with the police, but also said the league would take out private prosecutions where necessary. | He pledged to work with the police, but also said the league would take out private prosecutions where necessary. |
| The league revealed it had set up its own prosecution unit to target hunters who break the terms of the Hunting Act. | The league revealed it had set up its own prosecution unit to target hunters who break the terms of the Hunting Act. |
| Lord Archer QC, a former solicitor general, and Anthony Scrivener QC, former chair of the Bar Council, have agreed to provide advice to the unit. | Lord Archer QC, a former solicitor general, and Anthony Scrivener QC, former chair of the Bar Council, have agreed to provide advice to the unit. |
| Court challenge | Court challenge |
| The Boxing Day meets are traditionally the largest of the year. | The Boxing Day meets are traditionally the largest of the year. |
| According to the Countryside Alliance, more people than ever are participating in hunting. | According to the Countryside Alliance, more people than ever are participating in hunting. |
| Meanwhile, the alliance's legal challenge to the legislation is set to be heard in the House of Lords. | Meanwhile, the alliance's legal challenge to the legislation is set to be heard in the House of Lords. |
| In June, the alliance and other pro-hunt campaigners failed to get the Court of Appeal to rule that the legislation breached European human rights, trading and employment regulations. | In June, the alliance and other pro-hunt campaigners failed to get the Court of Appeal to rule that the legislation breached European human rights, trading and employment regulations. |