Axe Vale Dig-Out: Police Protect the Fox Hunters

Back in March, Devon County Hunt Sabs and Mendip Hunt Sabs intervened in a dig-out at an Axe Vale Harriers meet. As seen in the footage previously shared by the HSA, sabs had come across a gang of hunt terriermen who were digging into a badger sett.

Fox and terrier were eventually prised apart, and the fox was pulled out of the sett and flung into the air. The fox ran off, bearing visible injuries. The terrier was also badly injured and was hastily stuffed into a box on the quadbike before the masked-up terriermen drove off with no number plates visible on their quadbikes.

Sabs had called the police because of the ongoing wildlife crime and because the terriermen made several threats of violence. Two response officers arrived after the terriermen had scarpered. Sabs had gathered solid video evidence of multiple offences under the Hunting Act, Protection of Badgers Act, Animal Welfare Act and Public Order Act, including evidence that enabled the identification of the terriermen.

Sab attempts to engage with the police.

However, the case was recently dropped by Devon & Cornwall Police, citing ‘insufficient evidence’. We are therefore sharing footage of the conversation sabs had with police officers on the day to show you what witnesses and victims of crime have to deal with in Devon.

Insufficient evidence?’

Instead of securing evidence, these officers lectured sabs about trespass, told them hunting was only a ‘civil matter’, and claimed that the landowner had assured them what was going on his land was a ‘legal hunt’. This was followed by more sarcastic and dismissive remarks, some of which can be heard in our video footage.

A sab from Devon County Hunt Sabs said:

“We have filed a complaint with Devon & Cornwall Police, because of the attitude and inaction from officers on the day and also because of significant failures in the investigation that followed.

Some of the evidence necessary to bring a prosecution can only be gathered by police officers. They are responsible for securing the crime scene, gathering forensic evidence, speaking to suspects under caution and ensuring that expert witnesses attend the scene with minimal delay, such as is necessary for a prosecution under the Protection of Badgers Act. They are also responsible for ensuring that those experts have access to all the evidence they need to produce their report. Furthermore, in situations where a protected animal such as a terrier is clearly injured as a result of the actions of the terriermen, they should also seize the dog as evidence and ensure that the dog receives veterinary treatment.

Axe Vale Harriers – getting away with murder.

Devon & Cornwall Police failed on all these aspects, and we hold them fully responsible for the fact that, yet again, a hunt has gotten away with crime, despite all the evidence gathered by us on the day. Devon is the most densely hunted county in England and we witness hunt-related crimes most weeks. Where we have succeeded in bringing prosecutions against hunt members, these have been despite Devon & Cornwall Police’s involvement, not because of it. We regularly have to contend with police bias, obstruction and lack of knowledge of even the basic aspects of the relevant legislation. This is shocking for a police force that is also home to the national policing lead on hunting (ACC Matt Longman).

Terrierman attempts to conceal dog’s injuries.

Devon’s residents and its wildlife deserve better. We have informed Devon & Cornwall Police that we seek a review of the criminal investigation and a response to each of the points laid out in our complaint letter. We are also requesting the appointment of a Single Point of Contact for hunt saboteurs in Devon, which is something we were promised years ago but has yet to materialise. The fact that hunts have such a Single Point of Contact – but we don’t – is clear evidence of two-tier policing.”

You can read Devon County Hunt Sabs’ police complaint in full here:
https://devoncountysabs.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/redactedaxevalepolicecomplaint.pdf

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