On 27th December the Avon Vale Hunt gathered in Lacock town centre, Wiltshire to promote the facade and smokescreen of 'trail hunting' during which peaceful demonstrators were violently attacked by hunt supporters as captured on film and widely available to view.

There were just two police officers present to police this event, one of whom PC Laura Hughes, despite being in close proximity to this violence, failed to intervene, failed to call for back-up, failed to make any arrests and instead remonstrated with one of the female demonstrators asking for help. It has since materialised that PC Hughes is a paid up member of the Avon Vale hunt, the very hunt she was trusted with policing and by association known to the violent mob assaulting members of the public in her presence.

It has also been captured on film her colleague admitting that it was widely believed that there would be disorder at this particular meet.

I feel it is incumbent of Wiltshire police to provide an explanation as to why this meet was not provided with an adequate number of officers in order to respond as need be to illegality by hunt supporters and to protect the public?

Why was PC Hughes one of only two officers policing this event given her association with these thugs; her own horse even participated in this event? Who made the operational decisions and on what basis were they made?

PC Hughes is unfit to hold the office of Police Constable. She wilfully allowed peaceful members of the public to be violently assaulted by her associates due to her allegiance to this Hunt. She should be dismissed forthwith. When will those who have been identified with names given be arrested and charged and what efforts are Wiltshire police taking to identify all the hunt thugs filmed assaulting people?

How many other serving officers have links to the hunting fraternity?

What assurances can Wiltshire police give that all future public events will be policed with fairness, impartiality and with public safety in mind?

Thankyou