Force the issue (From Gazette & Herald)

Force the issue

POLICE say difficult questions still surround the enforcement of the hunting ban in North Yorkshire.

Inspector Neil Burnett, Ryedale area commander, said the future of the ban was still very unclear, with officers at a very senior level nationally currently discussing how it would be policed.

"Police forces will need to determine the priority of enforcing a ban and also the practicalities of enforcing a ban, both aspects of which currently pose some difficult questions," he said.

"The legislation, as it is proposed, is likely to change as legal challenges and arguments take place in coming months, so it may be some time yet before the police are able to give a definite position on how they are going to enforce the hunt ban.

"In respect of North Yorkshire Police, the chief officer's team is currently actively determining answers to some of the many questions that are being put to us about policing the hunt ban."

Insp Burnett's comments come after an assistant chief constable admitted that officers would find it difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal hunting.

Sussex ACC Nigel Yeo - responsible for advising police forces on implementing the Hunting Act when it comes into force on February 18 - is seeking advice from a hunting organisation.

In a letter to the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA), ACC Nigel Yeo asked if there was "any guidance I can give to police officers on how to identify the difference between drag hunts and trail hunts which will remain legal and fox hunting."

In reply, Alistair Jackson, of the MFHA, highlighted the difficulties even for experienced observers of hunting.

He said he "would consider it almost impossible for anyone to know if a pack of hounds was hunting a fox or a drag. I do not envy you your job".

Catherine Webster, secretary of the Glaisdale Hunt, said: "I quite agree. At first sight it will be very difficult to distinguish between what is legal and what isn't.

"I know most of the hunts will hunt legally, within the law, because that's what we've got to do until legal challenges have been made, and then hopefully we'll win and the ban will be lifted."

Darren Hughes, of the Countryside Alliance, said: "We have consistently warned the Government that the Hunting Act is bad legislation and that it would be practically un-enforceable.

"If senior police officers can't differentiate between legal and illegal hunting, how on earth is a village bobby going to be able to tell when hunts meet as normal on February 19?"

Updated: 09:09 Tuesday, January 18, 2005