Reply from Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

The following is the reply from the Ministerial Dept for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and my reply to that. Re: Hunting Act 2004 - ref. TO2018/05410 Wed, Mar 21, 2018 at 1:08 PM, Ministerial Contact Unit wrote: Dear Ms Richfield, Thank you for your email of 5 March about the exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004. Anyone who believes an offence is taking place, or has taken place, during a hunt should report the matter to the police as they deal with complaints of illegal hunting. Decisions on the arrest and prosecution of those taking part in illegal hunting activities are matters for the police and prosecuting authorities. The Prime Minister has said that there will not be a vote on fox hunting during this parliament and, as such, the Government has no plans to amend the provisions in the Hunting Act 2004. As this is a devolved matter, we are unable to comment on the situation in Northern Ireland. Yours sincerely, Ministerial Contact Unit Defra To: Ministerial Contact Unit Defra Thank you for your email of 21st March. You mention reporting illegal offenses to the police, however, the whole point of my communication with you was to point out that exemptions in the Hunting Act allow unscrupulous hunters to routinely avoid prosecution by using these exemptions as loop holes. Reporting to police has proved to be ineffectual, and therefore exemptions in the act should be reconsidered, and where appropriate, removed. With very few prosecutions and limited penalties exemptions in the Hunting Act allow unscrupulous hunters to continue to enjoy the freedom of chasing and killing deer, foxes and other mammals, much as they did before the Hunting Act was introduced. Sincerely, Celsi Patricia Richfield