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We work to expose and end the cruelty inflicted on animals in the name of sport.

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League Against Cruel Sports

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Criminality not Class

Written by Joe on 05 October, 2011 : 14:29

Since I started at the League I've been called a bunny-hugging class warrior. I'm not sure how to take it, but it's clear the quality of debate in some areas is quite poor.

Let's look at the class issue. There is a strange fairytale world of Allianceland where there's a League investigator up every tree, a remote camera under every bush, all trying to catch the feral rich as they crash through the law of the land, our property and villages, mounted on their horses and surrounded by hounds and hunt followers.

In Allianceland, chief executive Alice Barnard and her chums bravely defend the honourable squirachy against the working-class townie oiks who want to stop the traditional fun of hunting wild animals with dogs.

Back in the real world, the League will continue to catch criminals breaking the Hunting Act and other wildlife legislation whether they are toffs in red jackets, working class lads with dogs, plumbers, bankers or university students.

The key for us is the criminality, not the class. To achieve our animal welfare objectives we will work within the law to enforce, change and create the law. We do not and will not condone those who break the law.

Can the same be said for the Countryside Alliance? It's certainly the case that they don't represent all the rural community. Our polling shows that 71% of country people are against the repeal of the Hunting Act. Yet its their core purpose.

Do they support those who are the victim of hunt havoc? No they don't. We will monitor their communications over the coming days to see what they say about the family who were traumatised when a hunt's pack rioted and attacked their alpacas. Challenged to name the hunt caught cubhunting last month, and they remain silent.

Do they support hunters who have been found guilty of criminal offences? Yes they do. On their website Alice Barnard promoted an appeal for the two criminals convicted under the Hunting Act and the Protection of Badgers Act. The Countryside Alliance also said they would "give our full support" to twice-convicted criminal Richard Down, huntsman of the Quantock Staghounds.

On the basis of this track record how can they claim to represent the interests of the countryside when they're so out of whack with what ordinary people think about law and order?

There is a crisis of crime in the countryside. Policing is a key issue for rural communities. Yet the Alliance champion people who are breaking the law of the land, undermining confidence in the police and the criminal justice system. For example, how can people get away with rioting with dogs across someone's alpaca farm, damaging property and harming livestock and not even get a police caution?

As I said to the room full of hunters at our Conservative conference fringe event last night, wildlife crime needs to quickly become a policing priority. Zero tolerance of crime is good enough for London where the new Commissioner is going to be hard on catching all criminals. Why is it not good enough for villages?

Theresa May said yesterday "the only cause of crime is criminals" and that the police reforms are about "tough, no nonsense crime fighting". So let's have some tough no nonsense wildlife crime fighting.

As for being a bunny hugger, I wear that epithet with pride.

11 comments

Erica Stanton
I don't claim to be superior to anyone, but would like to share a little story. I was feeding my rescue horse one day, when I saw the most beautiful riderless horse charge down the lane. I went to enquire of him, and found him grazing about half a mile from a main road. I gently approached him and led him back to the field for his own safety, As we walked back down the lane, a gentleman in hunting attire came rushing toward me puffing and blowing, he called me an angel for catching his horse, who had a tantrum and bolted out of the stable, I explained that I was passionately anti-hunting, but passionate about horse welfare, so he proceeded to thank me again for 'saving' his horse and went on his way. Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction I guess, and it's a funny old world!
Geff
Given the recent heavy jail sentences for inciting others to riot why not prosecute those who organised and signed the Hunting Declaration that they would not obey the law. This was clearly intended to incite mass criminality. Let's see zero tolerance shared fairly across all sectors of society.
Michael
I just don't recognise the way you describe the CA, the countryside or the hunting community at all. And I marvel at you describing the quality of debate from the pro-hunt lobby as poor. Pot calling kettle I fancy. If you want to take this slightly more highbrow, read some Roger Scruton. The League presents a wonderfully simplistic view that fox hunting is viciously cruel and anyone involved in it is a blood thirsty monster. Thats patently not the case. The more you alienate the people you disagree with, the more obvious it is that your arguments hold no water. You may disagree with Alice B, but you must realise she's a perfectly sensible, intelligent, reasonable professional. Surely? But I guess to admit that would mean that this whole debate is just a little bit more nuanced. As for being a bunny hugger, well I spent yesterday afternoon rounding up my kids fancy rabbits who'd tunnelled out of the run again and into the paddock, so I guess that makes two of us. Tomorrow evening I will however be giving the feral ones a good bashing for the sake of the grazing and the banks they're destroying.
A LACS Supporter
Roger Scruton high brow Michael says. Well, a pro blood sport, anti hunt ban Countryside Alliance supporter as Michael obviously is would speak highly of a man who makes no secret of the fact that he is an active fox hunter in the 'traditional' sense ot the word and sport; doesn't take kindly to laws in Scotland, England and Wales that have now prevented him from deliberately setting out with his cruel like-minded traditional fox hunter mates of the type and sort who take great delight in seeing their pack hounds tear a live fox apart (see recent Lacs published picture of a fox disembowelled in a Kent village garden by a Hunt's rioting hounds). And from what I've read about him also urged anti ban fox hunters like himself to go over to Ireland where this nasty blood sport still remains sadly legal. And if any one is in need of a 'good bashing' Michael it's CA Trolls like yourself who together with a few other CA Trolls who come on here have nothing useful to contribute towards these League AGAINST Cruel Sports' Blogs.
Michael
Crumbs, I wonder how we should rate the quality of that contribution to the debate. But seriously, and with respect, I'm sorry if offering an alternate point of view is seen as trolling. I disagree with much of whats said on these blogs and say so, but most defintely not with any intention of causing offence. There is a middle way through this hunting debate impasse - I'd like us all to seek it for the sake of wildlife and the countryside.
Matthew
At least pro hunters a big enough to make their feelings known, have organisations that publish warts and all stories. Which is more then that can be said for LACS (League Against CRITICAL Speach) on their 'open & honest' forum. Twice I have posted about the video survaliance and twice it has not been published - no surprise i suppose!
A LACS Supporter
@ Michael - What other conclusion am I expected to reach when it appears that you, as well as other self-admitted hunters, Matthew being another self-declared pro hunter on here, do tend to spend quite a bit of time posting not supportive comments, but critical ones about this organisation's mission work which is clearly spelt out at the top of this page as being To Expose and End the Cruelty Inflicted on Animals For Sport. You also do jolly well know that it was intended to provoke anti wildlife cruelty LACS' supporters when you used the kind of language which you did in your previous post of giving those wild rabbits on your land a "good bashing for the sake of the grazing and the banks they are destroying". We have wild rabbits on our land who also graze on it and make homes for themselves in its banks, but we have no intention of giving them what you called a 'good bashing' as all the family love to see them frolicking about in the fields. As for what I said about you being a CA Troll well that is what I will continue to think of you as being if you continue to promote the Countryside Alliance's anti-LACS campaigning aims and objectives on these open and easy to access League Blogs. Having had a look at the Countryside Alliance's web site it would appear they don't want to set up similar Blog sites to what is available on this one of The League's where just about any one -friend or foe - can post their comments to. Anyway how did you go about giving those feral rabbits on your land a 'good bashing' - please elaborate on how you went about it ? Or was it intended all along to be a windup of this organisation's wildlife-friendly supporters on your part?
Michael
"A self-admitted hunter" - you make it sound as if I should hang my head. Sorry, but I'm not in the least bit abashed to say that I shoot, fish and hunt, and enjoy my field sports enormously. On one level I concede that my choice of the words about controlling our feral rabbits (by quietly, and humanely walking up on them with a shotgun incidentally) was perhaps a little cavalier, but I did not seek to shock, provoke or offend. I suppose I was trying to contrast this with Joe's own chosen idiom. Fairplay if you're prepared to let wild rabbits run riot on your land, but I don't have that luxury. Grazing is at a premium, their digging in the fields is a risk to my livestock and my veg patch is there for the kicthen. As for offering a contrary view and pushing the CA agenda then of course thats why I post here. And hats off to the League for allowing people of all persuasions to comment. But I'd add that visiting this site has also encouraged me to redouble my own efforts in support of the fight against dog fighting which is truly and utterly abhorrent.
sheryl
Michael uses contradictory phrases like that, he says of foxes one minute that there are "mangey specimens" and the next breath saying he respects foxes, he says he is going to give rabbits "a good bashing" and in the same post he is stating that "if you alienate the people you disagree with the more obvious it is that your arguments don't hold water" ? Michael then backtracks and comes out with the pathetic line about quietly and humanely walking up to the rabbits.... dear me ! Michael has left several posts on these blogs and time and time again has contradicted his arguments. He had no idea how to protect his dogs which are kept in kennels from diseases. He has accused the drag hunt fraternity of killing foxes which has supposedly got strict measures in place so the hounds do not do this. Matthew and Michael also think it's abhorrent for dogs to rip each other up which it is, but then think it's OK for a dog to rip a fox or other creatures up ? I could go on but read the other blogs they have commented on to see their excuses and contradictions on hunting. Matthew and Michael are certainly here to provoke as their arguments are full of contradictions and bitterness.
Michael
Sheryl, with respect I don't think I've offered any excuses or contradictions. I may not be the most articulate or intellectually rigorous individual, but I know my countryside is much more complex than you would have it. I disagree with you, I disagree with much of what LACS says (but not all), and I take what opportunity I can to advance a contrary view. But I am most definitely not bitter - just anxious to right a most terrible wrong.
sheryl
Michael, the contradictions are there in your posts for all to see ! I do not think it is "your" countryside either Michael, It is everyone's countryside, you pro hunters think you have exclusive rights to OUR countryside, that really shows how you all think. Also you think all the Leagues supporters are from the city and do not understand your ways, another wrong assumption. These arguments are spewed out of the pro's mouths time after time. I'm here to right a most terrible wrong, the cruelty you all show other living creatures for your fun !

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