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Groups set for key hunting date 'Thousands' set for UK fox hunts
(about 5 hours later)
Countryside groups say more than 200 hunts are due to meet - nearly two years after hunting with hounds was made illegal in England and Wales. More than 200 hunts are due to meet - nearly two years after hunting with hounds was outlawed in England and Wales, Countryside groups say.
Hunting foxes with dogs was banned in February 2005 but hounds can still be used at meets to follow a scent. Under the ban, dogs can still be used to follow a scent - and foxes can be killed by a bird of prey or shot.
Two dogs can flush out a fox and it can then be killed by a bird of prey or shot. Hounds have also reportedly killed a fox by accident. The League Against Cruel Sports said they would be looking out for any illegal activity.
Anti-hunting groups say they will be out looking for any illegal activity. But the Countryside Alliance said it was up to the police to enforce the law, not "vigilante pressure groups".
Officials from the League Against Cruel Sports say their lawyers will be working to ensure the hunts follow the legislation. Simon Hart from the alliance said such activity by anti-hunt groups was unacceptable.
Lord Archer QC, a former solicitor general, and Anthony Scrivener QC, former chair of the Bar Council, have agreed to provide advice to a new unit that will use both civil and criminal law to target hunters who break the law. "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."
'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.
But things had got progressively worse and currently a "significant" amount of law-breaking was taking place, he said.
"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.
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.
Court challengeCourt challenge
The 26 December, Boxing Day, meets are traditionally the largest of the year. The Boxing Day meets are traditionally the largest of the year.
According to the main pro-hunting group, 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, High Court backing for the ban is to be challenged in the House of Lords. The pro-hunting group estimates that as many as 250,000 people could turn out for the Boxing Day meets.
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. 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.