HSA news release 19th February 2005

Yesterday, 10 members of the East Kent Hunt saboteurs attended the first meet of the East Kent Hunt, after the hunting ban came into force. Their reasons for being there, were to gather evidence of any illegal hunting, and to take non violent direct action, if hounds were put onto a fox. The meet was at Crundale house, near Wye, were two weeks previously, saboteurs were attacked by around 30 hunt supporters, leaving many injured, and one saboteur needing 16 stitches to a head wound. This incident (footage of which was broadcast on local BBC news), is being investigated by local police.

Fearing more violence, the saboteurs were accompanied by a BBC reporter and camera man. Trouble flared in the afternoon, when a member of the hunt blocked the saboteurs vehicle with his own, on a public highway, then attacked the BBC cameraman, and had to be restrained by saboteurs.