Police admit they won't be out chasing hunters

Hunting with dogs becomes illegal today, and hundreds of supporters are expected to join the Avon Vale Hunt tomorrow in defiance of the ban.

Police have admitted they will be out to combat public disorder, not to chase huntsmen across the countryside to find evidence of illegal activity.

A last-minute bid to overturn the ban failed on Wednesday when the Court of Appeal rejected the Countryside Alliance's opposition to the use of the Parliament Act.

The new law will be fully tested by the Avon Vale Hunt's first hunt under the new law at Gastard tomorrow.

Hunt master, Jonathon Seed said: "We will be out hunting within the boundaries of a badly-written law that lacks clarity. No-one really knows what is in the law.

"There is nothing banning the wearing of red coats or riding horses. It is still not an offence to kill a fox; it's just an offence to go out with the intention to kill a fox.

"We are intending to go out and hunt within the law and may exercise our right to flush out a fox. It is my intention to conduct a legal activity on Saturday."

The Avon Vale Hunt's last fully legal meet was due at Spye Park, near Melksham, yesterday.

The Government's ban is causing a headache for police. Chief Insp Nick Ashley, of Wiltshire Constabulary, said: "We are duty bound to uphold the law and if there is clear evidence of illegal activity taking place we will investigate.

"There are a lot of hunts going on and we can't possibly police every single one of them.

"People want us to tackle burglaries, crime and drugs but there is potential for disorder at hunts. This is our priority.

"Illegal hunting is not the priority of the police, it is the chance of public disorder which comes with it.

"We will not make wholesale arrests for illegal hunting. If we have allegations of breaches of the Hunting Act we will need evidence and it's up to the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges."