Thousands join hunts despite ban
The fox hunting season has begun - the first since a ban on using dogs in England and Wales - as campaigners claim the laws are being flouted.
Thousands of people are expected at 200 hunts across the country to hunt within the law. Anti-hunt campaigners will also be out in force.
But 40% of hunts have broken the law, the League Against Cruel Sports says. There were 157 allegations of illegal hunting against 89 hunts since the ban was introduced in February, said the report. Information was gathered from hunt monitors, press articles and tip-offs. The League`s findings are based on evidence relating to 132 of the 317 official hunts in England and Wales.
Numerous loop-holes in the law exist - hounds can still chase a trail, and there is no ban on killing rats or rabbits. And it is thought at least 50 hunts use hounds to flush out foxes to a bird of prey. And in all these, accidents can happen, with hounds pursuing a live fox.
A survey conducted by ORB shows that 45% of those interviewed supported the ban. The survey is based on the opinions of 1006 adults in England, Scotland and Wales questioned between 28 and 30 October. The Alliance said the latest poll marked a significant difference from a Mori poll in July 1999 in which 63% of those questioned supported the ban.
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