League statement on PM's comments and illegal hunting and prosecutions

In response to the Prime Minister's renewed commitment made yesterday in a media briefing to another vote to repeal hunting and other media stories on the issue of hunting, the League Against Cruel Sports - Britain's leading national organisation against animal persecution and bloodsports - today called on the government to ensure the Hunting Act was properly enforced and reaffirmed its commitment to help ensure law-breakers were prosecuted.

Eduardo Gonçalves, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said in response: “Many people will be shocked that with all the challenges the country is facing the Prime Minister thinks that holding a vote to potentially make it legal again to chase and kill wild animals for fun should be a priority. The most recent Ipsos MORI polling in December 2015 found that over 8 out of 10 people want hunting to remain illegal, with 84% in rural areas wanting it to stay banned and 7 out of 10 Conservative supporters opposed to hunting.

“Instead of pandering to the tiny but well-connected hunting lobby the Prime Minister should start listening to the public, drop the Government’s pledge to a vote on hunting, and instead commit to proper enforcement of the Hunting Act.

"Opposing hunting and protecting wild animals from being killed for sport will remain our priority. We will continue to raise awareness of the cruelty of hunting with the public and policy makers. We will also continue to investigate illegal hunting, pass on evidence to prosecuting authorities, and take whatever legal action is appropriate and necessary to ensure the law is upheld and offenders brought to justice."