The Hunt Saboteurs Association – Fighting On All Fronts!

When the HSA was founded in 1963 it had one simple aim: to promote radical direct action against all bloodsports. We have never wavered from this founding principle and have faced down decades of hunt violence, corrupt policing and hostile legislation. Today, the HSA is proud to support over sixty affiliated groups who save the lives of hunted animals week-in, week-out across the country.

However, the HSA will always use whatever means are at our disposal to defeat hunting. When the Hunting Office ‘smokescreen’ webinars were leaked, it was the HSA that took the courageous decision to publish them. This had a devasting impact on hunting and led directly to the Labour’s manifesto commitment to “ban trail hunting”.

We have also learnt a hard lesson from the 2004 Hunting Act. Back then, the HSA was excluded by more financially powerful animal welfare groups – many of which had never been near a hunt – and we ended up with an act which was not fit for purpose.

We owe it to hunted animals to ensure that this never happens again.

So, this time around, the HSA is already in parliament, drawing on our decades of experience to convey the full horror of hunting and – crucially – to explain to MPs how it can be stopped.

We have established a highly experienced, all-volunteer team to work on contacting MPs and producing electoral posts and materials. Our Chair started visiting the Houses of Commons and Lords on a regular basis, meeting with key representatives and putting across our demands.

We also wrote to all MPs, and standing candidates asking them for their position on hunting as well as publicising those who supported our aims.

This process started long before the last election, but our work went into overdrive when the present government committed to reform of the Hunting Act in its manifesto.

We are holding the government to this pledge and have been told that an improved act will go before parliament. This summer, there will be a wide consultation on what this will entail and be assured that the HSA will be at the forefront, pushing for the most radical possible changes to the act.

Whether it is in the ornate committee rooms of parliament or out in the muddy killing fields – the Hunt Saboteurs Association is fighting on all fronts for our hunted wildlife!