Anti-hunting groups welcome Peterborough City Council’s ban vote

The vote at last night’s (December 9) Full Council meeting meant the city council will also prevent ‘trail hunting’ on its land.
The motion was submitted by Labour and Cooperative member for North ward, Cllr Ansar Ali.

It stated: “Peterborough City Council notes that Fox hunting, Deer hunting and Hare hunting with Dogs is illegal under the terms of the Hunting Act 2004, except where an exemption applies. Most registered hunts claim to now be ‘trail’ hunting, an activity invented after the ban which allows hunts to claim that any chase of a wild mammal is an accident rather than intentional.

“This Council resolves to do everything within its legal powers to prevent trail hunting, exempt hunting, hound exercise and hunt meets on its land.”
Councillors voted by a narrow majority to pass the motion with 30 voting for, 26 against and one abstention.

Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “This is a landmark moment in the campaign we are running to end hunting for good. 
“Peterborough City Council should be commended for denying hunts the land they need to carry out their barbaric blood ‘sport’.

“With Peterborough being the first council to ban trail hunting since the Hunting Office’s webinars were released, we look forward to other councils across the country following suit.”
A statement from Peterborough Hunt Sabs sent to the Peterborough Telegraph said:“The motion passed by Peterborough City Council this evening, sends a clear signal that fox hunts are not accepted in civilised society. The recently leaked

Hunting Office webinars, and subsequent police investigations, have opened the public’s eyes to the deceit of trail hunting. We are hugely pleased that our local city council have joined the growing list of landowners to tell the hunts that they are no longer welcome.”

Campaigners say their objections to legal ‘trail hunting’ have been increased by recently ‘leaked’ webinars in which alleged comments led to concerns about trail hunting.