First arrests under new (British) hunt laws

BBC ^ | Feb 19 05 | BBC

[churchillbuff]

Four men have been arrested by police in Wiltshire in what is believed to be the first arrests under the new hunting legislation. The men were found on an unclassified road near Malmesbury, with four dogs and the carcass of a hare.

A 53-year-old from Ireland and three men, aged 31, 32 and 33, from South Wales were arrested on suspicion of hunting with dogs.

The four have now been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

This [ban] may take two or three years, perhaps two or three months, to unpick

Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart The men, who were arrested at 0400 GMT, are also being investigated over possible firearms offences relating to a modified air rifle and possible offensive weapons charges.

Wiltshire Police spokesman Dave Taylor said: "We would stress that they were nothing to do with any of the organised hunts."

In total it is believed more than 270 hunt groups set out on Saturday, just one day after the ban came in.

Anti-hunt groups - such as the League Against Cruel Sports - deployed 100 monitors at hunt meets to check for illegal activity.

Mike Hobday, from the league, said video evidence of the law being broken was to be passed onto police.

"Our evidence suggests that most hunts did operate within the law, many meeting and promptly going home and others peacefully exercising their hounds or drag hunting.

"However, we have received reports of what we believe is clearly illegal activity by a number of hunts across Britain."

The Countryside Alliance said the meets would show the new law was "impossibly difficult to determine" and open to different interpretations.

Chief executive Simon Hart said: "There has been hunting in England for 700 years. This [ban] may take two or three years, perhaps two or three months, to unpick.

"It will be nothing more than a temporary break in normal service."

[Jeff Chandler]

Anti-hunt groups - such as the League Against Cruel Sports - deployed 100 monitors at hunt meets to check for illegal activity.

The Brits are too nice. If anti-hunt groups tried that in the States, they'd be dodging buckshot.

[Mulch]

Anti-hunt groups - such as the League Against Cruel Sports - deployed 100 monitors at hunt meets to check for illegal activity.

Target-rich environment.

[Joey Silvera]

Is it even possible to legally obtain a firearm in the UK anymore?

[lowbridge]

deployed 100 monitors at hunt meets to check for illegal activity.

Self appointed government snitches. Castro would love these people.

[lowbridge]

deployed 100 monitors at hunt meets to check for illegal activity.

Self appointed government snitches. Castro would love these people.

[Bogey78O]

Licensed shotguns aren't incredibly difficult to get, I was told. Handguns and rifles are harder if not impossible if you're a law abiding citizen.

[AF68]

This is the kind of madness which will come to America if the liberal do-gooders get their way. You won't be able to hunt with a gun or bow; only pretend to hunt with dogs using a scent drag, constantly watched by the animal-rights Nazis. To go fishing, you'll have to run a gauntlet of anti-fishing crazies.

Let us pray: O Lord, deliver us from the do-good people. Amen.

[Russ]

Didn't I just read on another thread that the U.K. was in the top 10 "free" countries in the world (and we aren't)? BWAAHAHAHAHAHA!

[toadthesecond]

Gun law in the UK:

http://www.parker-hale.com/law.htm

[flashbunny]

An anti-hunting group tried to disrupt deer hunts in the late 80's. They would follow the hunters around and make noise to scare off deer.

I always thought it would be a good idea to let them follow you for the whole day, right to sundown. Be sure to get yourself deep into the woods. And then when it got right near dark, hightail it back to your truck and leave the anti-hunting weenies stranded in the woods, lost and unable to find their way out.

[JOHANNES801]

This did happen a few years back in western PA. A couple of antis followed a bear hunter deep into the hills,he left them at dark.The jerks tried to sue him after spending the night freezing their butts off.

[Happygal]

I thought they had banned fox hunting in the UK, not 'lamping' for rabbits.

That's just silly.

[sgtbono2002]

Arrested for hunting rabbits with dogs and a BB gun. My God this would get any hunter in this country laughed out of the state.

The Brits have lost their minds, Once again I thank my ancestors for coming here.

[expatpat]

The foxhunting being attacked doesn't involve firearms, but those idiots had better watch out for fast-running horses.....

[sdpatriot]

it isn't these do-goodie crazies that we need relief from.. it is the spineless rights-theiving congress critters who pass all these nazi laws. take the stupid law away and these tree huggers are powerless..

we are next..

[lawdog]

" A 53-year-old from Ireland and three men, aged 31, 32 and 33, from South Wales were arrested on suspicion of hunting with dogs. The four have now been released on police bail pending further inquiries. This [ban] may take two or three years, perhaps two or three months, to unpick Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Simon Hart The men, who were arrested at 0400 GMT, are also being investigated over possible firearms offences relating to a modified air rifle and possible offensive weapons charges."

This is the face of a once great nation turned into a socialst utopia. I am shocked that they didn't have these hooligans on camera. Hell isn't every inch of England on government CCTV. It's for their own protection!!!

Pass enough laws and pretty soon eveyone is a criminal.