ANTI-HUNTING activists are planning to stage a protest outside Wiltshire Police headquarters following allegations an officer had ties to two fox hunting groups.

PC Cheryl Knight recently announced on the Wiltshire Rural Crime Team’s Facebook page that she was taking up a new role with the unit and encouraged people to contact her about equestrian issues.

But the post received a backlash, with hundreds of social media users commenting, after photos were shared which allegedly showed PC Knight at both the Avon Vale and Beaufort fox hunts.

Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs labelled PC Knight’s appointment a conflict of interest, with the Avon Vale Hunt currently under police investigation after a video of two members throwing foxes to their hounds emerged.

They are now planning to protest the decision outside Wiltshire Police headquarters, on London Road, on Sunday, March 5.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: PC Knight had been announced as a new member of the Rural Crime Team.PC Knight had been announced as a new member of the Rural Crime Team. (Image: Wiltshire Police)

A spokesperson said: “We are protesting the appointment of a fox hunting police officer who, as a member of the Rural Crime Team, would be expected to investigate her hunt friends as part of her job.

“It is deeply concerning that many of those reports will come from the anti-hunt community and she will be privy to all manner of detail about us, and the evidence contained in those reports.

“Regardless of Wiltshire Police’s unfounded insistence that their officers carry out their roles impartially, this appointment represents a clear breach of the College of Policing’s Code of Ethics.

“The officer should be removed from this post immediately, to allow the Rural Crime Team to continue investigating incidents of illegal hunting without this slurring the reputation of her colleagues.”

Wiltshire Police say they will work with protesters to ensure any demonstration is peaceful and does not impact locals.

A spokesperson said: “We are aware of plans to protest outside Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes early next month.

“We will always facilitate protests when they are lawful, peaceful and, as is protocol, we will attempt to engage with the organisers to ensure this event is both.

“Due to the subject of the planned protest, and its location, we will be seeking independent guidance from other agencies to ensure the protest is in line with those peaceful and lawful requirements and to ensure the Devizes community is not adversely impacted.”

The police previously defended PC Knight’s appointment, emphasising that affiliation with hunt groups was not illegal and the pictures were not representative of her current role.

A spokesperson added: “We expect all our officers, regardless of rank or role, to carry out their duties impartially.”