HuntingThe Hunting Act 2004 came into force at midnight on 17th February 2005. Our relentless campaigning has guaranteed that the Hunting Act is now widely acknowledged to be bad law. It is no accident that many political commentators, Chief Constables, senior civil servants and a majority of the public have taken this view. The Countryside Alliance has worked tirelessly to expose the law for what it is: hard to interpret and enforce, illiberal, bad for animal welfare and a waste of police resources. Thanks to our determined efforts when working with hunts that have been targeted, there have been only a handful of successful convictions. However, it cannot be right that a large section of law-abiding citizens continue to live in constant fear of malicious prosecutions. In 2010 one hunt received 47 visits from animal rights activists armed with video cameras, aiming for prosecution. It is a terrible and vivid illustration of why things cannot ‘be left as they are’. Our campaigning has ensured that hunting remains firmly on the political agenda and the Coalition Agreement includes a commitment to a free vote in this Parliament. We need to remain vigilant in future and spot every opportunity to move our cause forward.
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 Winners announced in "Hunting under the Act" photo competitionTuesday, 10 July 2012 On the day of its 15th birthday (10th July) the Countryside Alliance is delighted to announce the winners and commendations of its amateur photographic competition, “Hunting under the Act”. The hounds of the Wynnstay and the Axe Vale have taken top honours! Read more Baroness Mallalieu's speech to the Hyde Park Rally, 10th July 1997Monday, 9 July 2012 In honour of the Countryside Alliance's 15th anniversary, we reproduce Baroness Mallalieu’s stirring and inspiring speech to the Hyde Park Rally, 10th July 1997: Everyone here today has somewhere else where they ought to be. Farmers have left their haymaking, farriers have left their forges, racehorse trainers have left their runners at Newmarket. Doctors, Nurses and vets have changed shifts to be here. Judges have adjourned their cases for the day. Children have taken a day off school and countless country firms and businesses have closed or are running on a skeleton staff. People who are old and people who are ill have travelled many miles; some setting out before dawn. Read more The CA on Britishness in The ObserverMonday, 18 June 2012 On Sunday 17th June The Observer published an article headlined "What does it mean to be British – and does it still matter?" The Countryside Alliance's Shooting Campaign Manager David Taylor was invited onto a round table discussion about the issue, and made some important points about class prejudice and hunting. Read more Heritage posters now available from online shop!Friday, 15 June 2012 The Countryside Alliance has re-issued some classic BFSS hunting posters as part of its Heritage range, and they are available from our online shop now. Two types of poster are available - "For Sport and Sportsman" depicting a pub meet with a shot in the foreground and "The more we get together the stronger we shall be" showing a huntsman arriving at a pub after a day's hunting to meet other fieldsportsmen. Read moreDisappointment at Crawley & Horsham Hunting Act verdictsTuesday, 15 May 2012 The Countryside Alliance is surprised and disappointed by the guilty verdicts of three members of the Crawley & Horsham Hunt, particularly because we do not believe there was sufficient evidence to sustain any of these prosecutions. The Countryside Alliance will continue to support the Crawley and Horsham defendants if they wish to appeal this verdict. Remember, also, that conviction rates are still at one per year of the Hunting Act's existence. Read more The Heythrop and the RSPCATuesday, 8 May 2012 The RSPCA has issued summons on 52 Hunting Act charges relating to the Heythrop Hunt, its Masters and employees as part of a private prosecution. The allegations have not been the subject of police investigation or any charging decision by the Crown Prosecution Service. None of those summonsed, nor anyone else involved with the Heythrop Hunt has been questioned by the police or RSPCA over any of the allegations which all allegedly occurred in the 2011/12 hunting season. The Heythrop Hunt operates in the Prime Minister’s Witney constituency and the kennels are just outside Chipping Norton. Read more The Case for Hunting - download it hereWednesday, 2 May 2012 The Countryside Alliance has argued the case for hunting consistently and tirelessly since it was formed in 1997. Four years ago we produced the ‘Case for Repeal’ but, perhaps because we have all become so well rehearsed in the debate, until now there has not been a single concise document expressing the positive ‘Case for Hunting’. That gap has now been filled with a new document which the Alliance has produced in association with the Council of Hunting Associations. Read more Crawley & Horsham Hunting Act case - an updateWednesday, 2 May 2012 There could not be a more vivid example of why the hunting debate must be made and won than the trial of Crawley and Horsham Masters, ex-huntsman and Secretary in Horsham Magistrates court last week and this. The case started with 11 separate charges against 4 individuals involving 4 incidents on 3 days. The prosecution dropped 4 charges, including all those relating to one incident, at the end of the prosecution evidence, admitting they were untenable. A further charge, the last against Master Jamie Hawksfield, was dismissed by the Judge after a defence submission that there was 'no case to answer'. Read more National Hunting Week will encourage newcomersFriday, 27 April 2012 Countryside Alliance Executive Chairman Sir Barney White-Spunner writes: Some readers will have seen that last weekend I was in various newspapers talking about my vision for the Countryside Alliance and British countryside in general. You can read the articles in full by clicking the links at the bottom of this piece, but I wanted to share a couple of the key points that I made in the interview. Read moreDangerous DogsThursday, 26 April 2012 On Monday the Government announced a further consultation on changes to dangerous dogs laws. Read on for the key proposals and how to respond. Read more |
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