Hunting with dogs
The Hunting Act 2004 came into effect on 18 February. It makes the hunting with dogs of all wild mammals an offence, and also completely bans hare coursing. There are a few tightly-drawn exemptions to allow essential activities, such as pest control, to continue subject to strict conditions. The Act does not stop people from riding with their dogs provided they remain within the law.
Hunting is not a priority for the Government. Jobs, schools, health, homes and transport are much more important to the Government and to most people living in rural areas. However, the resolution of the issue was a Labour Party manifesto commitment in 2001.
The Government recognises that there are very strong views on both sides and that the issue is a matter of conscience. It has been subject to a free vote in Parliament for very many years.
The Government sought throughout to find a less divisive way than the options of a total ban on the one hand or “no change” on the other. However, because the issue has been a matter of such contention year after year, and views were entrenched on both sides of the debate, it proved very difficult to find any common ground, and the large majority in the House of Commons for a ban eventually prevailed.
The Government fully supports the right of peaceful protest, but condemns unlawful protest and intimidation. The Government accepts the right of the Countryside Alliance and others to challenge the Act through the Courts but is confident that the Act has a sound legal basis. This view has been supported in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, where the Countryside Alliance’s challenge to the validity of the Parliament Act 1949 (which established the procedures under which the Hunting Act was passed) has been rejected. The House of Lords heard a further, final appeal on this issue in July, and is expected to deliver its judgement in the autumn. The Countryside Alliance has also launched separate legal challenges on human rights and European Union trade grounds. These cases were heard together in the High Court in July, and were rejected in their entirety. The Alliance has said that it will appeal against this judgement.
The Government believes that it is now time to move on from the debate over the rights and wrongs of hunting and to deal with any issues arising from the implementation of the Act. The Government does not expect that significant numbers of people will find themselves out of work as a result of the Act. Jobs related to hunting are few compared with other rural business sectors, such as the horse industry and tourism. Hunts have also demonstrated that it is quite possible to continue to ride within the law so there is no reason to suppose that many people will face serious difficulties. The Government is, nevertheless, keen to ensure that anyone affected by the ban knows about the wide range of information, advice and support available to them. It is also keen to ensure that animals used in hunting should not have to suffer. It is, therefore, grateful to the RSPCA for its offer to help with the re-homing or other care of dogs.
For more information please see the 'Question and Answers' page.
Page last modified:
12 March, 2008
Page published:
10 December, 2002