Campaigners in Brighton say it’s time for change and call for an end to fox hunting on national parks land
Posted 15th July 2023
The campaign calls on the 13 national parks authorities, including the South Downs, to do everything in their power to stop hunts chasing and killing foxes and wreaking havoc on rural communities.
It comes after a hunting season in which nearly 1,000 incidents related to suspected illegal hunting or havoc caused by hunts and their followers were recorded by the League.
John Petrie, senior regional campaign manager for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “It’s time for change. Hunts are still marauding around the South Downs and other national parks despite the fox hunting ban, so it’s time to end this brutal activity once and for all.
“National parks have a responsibility to protect wildlife and preserve nature from the harm that fox hunts cause and the public will be willing them on to end this barbaric cruel ‘sport’ on their land.”
While the South Downs National Park Authority has confirmed to the League it does not permit so-called ‘trail’ hunting on its land, at least five hunts are still operating across the park where landowners retain access rights.
More than 30 campaigners, plus members of the Brighton public, today called on the South Downs National Park Authority to show leadership and work with landowners and land managers across the South Downs to deny hunts access.
The campaign is backed by the Time for Change Coalition Against Hunting representing more than 30 organisations – one of the largest single-issue coalition of charities ever assembled in the UK – which is calling on the next government to strengthen hunting laws.
The campaigners, including the friendly League fox who entertained families today, met outside the Jubilee Clock Tower, and spoke to the public asking them to sign up to the campaign, before heading over to the Lanes and famous Brighton seafront.
John added: “The vast majority of the public want to see an end to the sordid world of fox hunting and denying hunts access to the land where they operate will be crucial in achieving that.
“Today was the first event of a wider national campaign to strengthen hunting laws in England and Wales and finally consign fox hunting to the dustbin of history where it belongs.”
Ends
Notes to editors
Enclosed are photos of the League Against Cruel Sports fox and campaigners in Brighton.
Photo one: The League fox on Brighton Pier.
Trail hunting is where hunts supposedly follow animal-based scents but has been described by England and Wales’s most senior policeman specialising in fox hunting crime as a “smokescreen” for the continuation of illegal hunting. Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/29/foxhunting-law-in-england-unworkable-says-police-chief
For more information or interview requests please contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on 07496 496454 (24hrs) or email pressoffice@league.org.uk
The League Against Cruel Sports is Britain's leading charity that works to stop animals being persecuted, abused and killed for sport. The League was instrumental in helping bring about the landmark Hunting Act 2004 and the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021. We carry out investigations to expose law-breaking and cruelty to animals and campaign for stronger animal protection laws and penalties. We work to change attitudes and behaviour through education and manage wildlife reserves. Find out more about our work at www.league.org.uk. Registered charity in England and Wales (no.1095234) and Scotland (no.SC045533).
