Hunt Saboteurs Association Press Release 7th of November 2011
Chaos in the Countryside
A week after falsely blaming hunt saboteurs for the death of one of their hounds, the attached video shows the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt casually risking the lives of their hounds. They were filmed throughout the day hunting on main roads, causing traffic chaos and at least two cars were forced to make emergency stops to avoid killing hounds. When the saboteurs voiced their concerns about how dangerous it was they were met with physical and verbal abuse.
Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt saboteurs Association, stated:
"It was very convenient for the hunt that saboteurs were present last week as it gave them an easy scapegoat for the death of their hound. This video shows conclusively that the hunts don't care for any animal, even their hounds, and are happy to put their lives at risk, and cause chaos, in the name of sport."
Two hunt saboteurs have been run down and injured by a quad bike, driven by a member of the Tedworth hunt, in Wiltshire.
The hunt saboteurs were parked up in a narrow lane watching the hunt when a quad bike, driven by the hunts terrierman, accelerated towards them. Despite there not being enough room to pass their landrover and with absolutely no regard for the two people who were standing at the side of the vehicle, the quad drove at them. The driver shouted to "get out the fucking way!". There was no time and nowhere for the hunt sabs to go. The quad drove at speed knocking down two men and driving over the upper arm of one of them. The quad sped off. It was a deliberate act which could have been avoided. Both men suffered cuts and bruises and one has suspected fractured ribs.
The sabs called 999 and reported the incident to the police. The hunt - complete with quad - came back past about 10 minutes later. The riders were recklessly riding very close to people. The quad driver threatened one of the sabs he'd just run over and said "you and me, down a quiet lane - then we'll see....".
Lee Moon, Press Officer for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said: It’s business as usual in the countryside. The hunts continue to illegally kill wildlife and act with violence towards anyone who tries to stop them. In election year, with the Tories promising to repeal the Hunting act, we feel it is important for the British public to know what type of people these are - willing to illegally harm people and wildlife in pursuit of their own pleasure.
For more information please contact Lee Moon on 07774 279 133
Derbyshire Police payout over £37,000 to Hunt Saboteurs
11 Hunt saboteurs from Yorkshire and the Midlands have each received over £3,000 after reaching an out-of-court settlement with the Derbyshire Constabulary following their wrongful arrest in January 2008.
The saboteurs were in attendance on the Meynall and South Staffordshire Fox Hunt when they were arrested under anti-trade union legislation after the police deployed the force helicoptor and dog units. They were held unlawfully for 24 hrs and the 11 were on police bail for several months. As part of the settlement DNA and finerprint evidence is in the process of being removed from police databases.
Violence and lawbreaking has returned to the countryside in 2009 as fox hunts continue to hunt and kill in spite of the hunt ban, and hunt supporters resort to violence and theft in order to protect the lawbreakers.
All hunts get extra media attention on Boxing Day and they tend to be on their very best behaviour, but once the spotlight it off it’s only hunt saboteurs and hunt monitors who witness what’s really happening.
At the Avon Vale Fox Hunt on 27th December, seven Hunt Saboteurs were in attendance to investigate claims of illegal hunting. Before they were able to unpack their cameras and start to gain evidence of law breaking, they were attacked by up to 15 armed men wearing balaclavas. The assailants broke a camcorder and stole the batteries before setting about the group. When police were called four times, one officer eventually arrived who seemed unconcerned about investigating the allegations of assault and theft.
Thousands of hunters signed a pledge to break the ban and risk prosecution in 2004. It now seems that they needn’t have bothered. The numerous loopholes in the Hunting Act make securing a conviction very difficult and the hunts have cottoned on to this – and act with impunity.
Hunt Master pays for new windscreen on Hunt Saboteurs’ van - 'the convenient way to buy justice in Northamptonshire!'
The Master of the Pytchley Hunt was left £225 out of pocket earlier today (28 Sept) after his huntsman and whipper-in smashed the windscreen on a Hunt Saboteurs van. Huntsmen smashing protestors’ windscreens is not uncommon. However, on this occasion the Hunt Master paid for a new windscreen on his credit card!
Members of Northants HSA had attended an early morning meet of the Pytchley Hunt to stop them killing fox cubs. At around 10.30 a.m, between the villages of Creaton and Brixworth, the hunt were close behind a fox when saboteurs managed to save it by calling away the hounds with a hunting horn. The huntsman and whipper-in then repeatedly attacked the saboteurs’ van with their whips and attempted to strike the 3 women inside it. As a result, the van’s windscreen was left with a fist sized hole on one side and a large crack on the other. The side windows of the van were left intact due to protective plastic shielding installed after an incident last year when hunt supporters shot at them. Local saboteur Clive Richardson spoke of the incident: “We stopped the hunt from killing all morning and they lost their tempers, trying to ride us down. Then after we saved the fox they galloped past us and set upon the van. The women inside must have been terrified”
Immediately after the incident, the hunt packed up and went home whilst the protestors made a 999 call to the police. When the saboteurs arrived at Weston Favell police station, a police officer had a telephone conversation with the Master of the Hunt, which has its kennels at Brixworth, Northants. An offer was made to pay for a replacement windscreen by credit card – which was accepted – and the police then arranged for a contractor to replace the windscreen. The Hunt is believed to be holding an internal inquiry. HSA spokesperson Nathan Brown commented: “The hunt would not have paid for the replacement windscreen if they had not smashed it. We are lucky that the occupants were not seriously hurt. Hunt Saboteurs are frequently victims of violent attacks. No amount of money can repair a head injury.
He continued "One also has to wonder what would happen if the situation had been reversed and it was the saboteurs accused of smashing the vehicle windows - we would no doubt find ourselves on serious charges. I doubt the police would see fit to ring us up, have a cosy chat and come to an arrangement to allow us to escape prosecution. That the local sabs made the pragmatic decision to accept the payment shows what little faith they have in the police pursuing a case against the hunt."
