Violence against hunt monitors 'could result in someone's death'

Observer beaten by hunt supporters at Belvoir Hunt says his ordeal comes amid growing hostillity against monitors


Roger Swaine, who was attacked while monitoring a drag hunt in Leicestershire

Violence against animal rights campaigners who monitor hunts is growing so bad that it could result in someone’s death, warned an observer who was beaten by hunt supporters at the weekend.

Roger Swaine and Darryl Cunnington, both hunt monitors for the League Against Cruel Sports, were allegedly assaulted and had their cameras stolen by a masked group on quad bikes at a Leicestershire hunt on Saturday.

Mr Swaine received a cut to the temple and ear while Mr Cunnington is in a serious condition with a suspected broken neck after they attempted to monitor the Belvoir Hunt, established by the third Duke of Rutland in 1760.

Mr Cunnington remained in hospital as doctors conducted MRI scans and other tests and was not able to speak to The Independent.

But Mr Swaine talked about the terrifying ordeal – which he said comes against a backdrop of growing hostility towards hunt monitors.

Hunting with dogs was banned by the Labour government in 2004 although hunts are still allowed to meet for “drag hunts” where dogs follow an artificial scent. Animal rights campaigners monitor these meets to ensure no wild animals are caught.

Mr Swaine suggested the rise in violence against monitors could be, in part, due to the campaign by the Conservative Party last year to water down the hunting ban – even though it was ultimately unsuccessful. 

“It’s got steadily worse since all this talk of repeal. MPs spoke of the hunts as an oppressed minority and talked about the hunting ban being a failed law,” said Mr Swaine, a 43-year old former Rolls-Royce engineer. “After that the atmosphere changed. It’s very worrying how bad it’s getting – someone’s going to get really hurt if something isn’t done. Well Darryl’s really hurt [now] but there’s been a few deaths, more on an accidental level but something nasty’s going to happen.”

Plans to repeal the ban were later watered down, then ditched altogether as the Scottish National Party pledged to oppose the vote. But during the campaign David Cameron, Environment Secretary Liz Truss and other Tory MPs expressed their opposition to the Hunting Act and sympathy for the “country sports” way of life.

Mr Swaine and Mr Cunnington, a former Leicestershire police officer, were sitting on a ridge a couple of miles from Belvoir Castle, near Melton Mowbray on Saturday afternoon, when they heard a quad bike approaching.

Two men got off the bike and one of them recognised Mr Cunnington. “The older man said ‘that he should have known better than to be there’ and that ‘something will happen to you eventually’. He then told the younger man to ‘go and get the boys’,” Mr Swaine said.

The man returned with four “masked guys” who punched him in the side of the face and pushed Mr Cunnington over the ridge where he severely hurt himself, Mr Swaine alleges.

Leicestershire police confirmed that two men, aged 54 and 23, were arrested. They have since been bailed.
The hunt organiser declined to comment. The Department for Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs also declined to comment.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/violence-against-hunt-monitors-could-result-in-someones-death-a6931361.html

They are getting angry because so much evidence is being collected that they are still fox hunting illegally.  The evidence has been sent to the police.   That's not just the Belvoir Hunt, but many up and down the country. 


These from Bristol:

Bristol Hunt Saboteurs
We popped over the bridge today with our mates from South Wales to visit The Curre & Llangibby hunt who were meeting in Shirenewton.
The hunt tried to create some distance between us, with the huntsman keeping the hounds tight. We were never far behind and with it being a beautiful, clear day, we had the hunt firmly in our sights (including watching riders getting proper boozy!).
Soon enough, the huntsman was whizzing past us, ahead of the hounds and started hollering (alerting the hounds to a fox) manically. The hounds were in dense woodland at this point which is an impossible place for a trail to be laid. The hounds picked up the scent. We were too far away to intervene and just hope that Mr/Mrs fox got away to safety.
After their blatant illegal hunting, the hunt took off at a pace and managed to lose us, but thankfully we had a car of locals out on the lookout for them and soon enough the hounds were spotted and we were back on the scene.
The hunt were drawing another thick covert and hounds were soon in cry. A fox was seen darting away and we made sure we covered it's scent and that the hounds didn't get back onto it. From then on we decided enough was enough and started taking control of the pack using horns and voice calls.
For the rest of the day, we repeatedly called the hounds off the hunt and away from the covert. The huntsman tried his best to get them back but we kept taking them again...and again. They gave up shortly after and went home.






Bristol Hunt Saboteurs
Today, the Ross Harriers were out chasing wildlife for the last Saturday of the hunting season. It seemed only fair to make ourselves present and spoil their fun. We teamed up with sabs from South Wales and 3C and followed the hunt from their meet at The Moon, Galway.
On our way to the meet, we were confused to find young hounds running amok on a busy road. We swiftly vacated our vehicles, slowed down the traffic and aided the hounds to safety. On closer inspection we noticed 'RH' tattooed on the inside of the hounds ear, which means that these are the new hounds bred for next season that were obviously being kept close by. Obviously their safety and wellbeing is a high priority...
Simon, the RH huntsman admitted to us today he wasn't following any trails. If rumour is to be believed, this was his last weekend with the Harriers and so he was determined to go out in style. He was relentless in encouraging the hounds to pick up scent, with hares fleeing for their lives in every direction.
We intervened, taking control of the pack on many occasions, helping hares get away to safety. The hunt didn't move very far, constantly turning back on themselves in a sad, desperate attempt to kill wildlife. However, we were there each time to intervene. At one point, the hounds chased a hare into a hedgerow too far away for us to help it. We hope the hare managed to get away.
We stuck with the Harriers until they packed up at 3.30pm knowing they could've killed so much wildlife today had we had not been there. We'll be seeing you next season...





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