Thank you for contacting me about fox hunting.

I appreciate the strong feelings many people have on this issue and I share your concern for ensuring the welfare of animals. As you may know, fox hunting is banned under the Hunting Act 2004, so whether or not an offence is being committed depends on whether or not the behaviour violates its provisions.

Since the introduction of the Hunting Act 2004 many hunts have turned to trail hunting as an alternative to live quarry hunting. This involves a pack of hounds following an artificially laid, animal-based scent. It closely mimics the hunting that took place before the ban, but does not involve a hunt for a live fox, so is not banned. For an offence to be committed it is necessary to prove that a wild animal is being hunted intentionally.

If any wild animal was hunted intentionally, this can lead to a prosecution and an unlimited fine. Of course, anyone who believes that an offence has taken place during a hunt, including during a trail hunt, should report the matter to the police. 

I recognise it is possible that dogs used for trail hunting may on occasion pick up and follow the scent of live foxes during a trail hunt. If that occurs, it is the responsibility of the huntsman and women and other members of hunt staff to control their hounds and, if necessary, stop the hounds as soon as they are made aware that the hounds are no longer following the trail that has been laid. Not doing so could be deemed an offence.

It is important that any evidence of illegal hunting is provided to the police, and it is for them to make a recommendation to the Crown Prosecution Service. If anybody is found to be breaking the law, I fully welcome prosecutions being brought.