'Huntmap' revealed on social networking site to show alleged illegal activity
To mark the sixth anniversary of the Hunting Act campaigners have today launched an online map on which Twitter users can pinpoint alleged illegal hunt activity.
Huntmap has been created by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) and already features hundreds of "tweets" alleging trespassing, disturbing of livestock or hounds chasing a mammal.
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They say harnessing the power of the social networking site and their 7,500 followers online will help to build up "a picture of hunting" in Britain. Postings on the map from Devon and Cornwall report "hounds running all over road out of control," "walker intimidated and threatened by terrierman" and "dead fox and observer attacked."
The tweets give dates and locations, and a message on Huntmap states that they have all been "moderated for legal purposes."
Controversy has surrounded the 2004 Hunting Act – which came into force on February 18, 2005 – with challenges over its legality and the police's commitment to enforcement.
But the league's chief executive, Douglas Batchelor, said he believes the ban "is going from strength to strength". He said: "This time last year the hunters were claiming the law which curtails their bloodsport wouldn't reach its sixth anniversary, yet here we are.
"The truth is that there is simply no appetite to repeal an act which would turn the clock back to cruelty and allow hunting of wild animals with dogs. The public wholeheartedly support the Hunting Act and we will continue to celebrate its anniversary for years to come."
In December, the farming minister Jim Paice said that lifting the ban was not a legislative priority for him, or for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The Countryside Alliance also admitted that the impact of the economic downturn meant that attempts to change the law were a low priority for the Government, despite hopes David Cameron would revisit the ban if he gained power.
Last year, former Prime Minister Tony Blair caused controversy when he said it would have been "less trouble" to propose culling every fifth pensioner than the outrage sparked by the Act.
In his memoirs, he said it is the introduction of the ban – rather than war with Iraq or the cash for honours probe – that he "most regrets" from his time in power.
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10 Comments
by TimV, Pz
Tuesday, February 22 2011, 3:22PM
“Tony Blair "said it is the introduction of the ban ¿ rather than war with Iraq or the cash for honours probe ¿ that he "most regrets" from his time in power." I suppose the logic of that statement is that if you feel no regret for over 100,000 human deaths and destruction on a gigantic scale, you can't really be expected to be pleased about saving the lives of a few foxes.”
by George, Cornwall
Monday, February 21 2011, 2:38PM
“@cornwall cats, Truro
Actually I run a volunteer organisation that regenerates neglected historic areas re introducing wildlife and then maintaing the areas on a long term basis.
I also won the Neighbourhood Watch award for reducing anti-social behaviour in my area by creating worthwhile interesting activities for the local young people get involved with.
What did YOU do?”
by Jake, Kernow
Monday, February 21 2011, 12:08AM
“The police are doing their jobs correctly;
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Police-praised-breaking-paedophile-ring/article-3145347-detail/article.html
The simple fact is that there are many more actual crimes that should and do take priority.
Note the word ¿alleged.¿ It's ironic the talk about people breaking the law and assumed guilt but, the foundation of our justice system is innocent until proven guilty.”
by cornwall cats, Truro
Sunday, February 20 2011, 6:54PM
“If the police did their job correctly and upheld the law rather than the rural status quo (no not the band) then maybe these people wouldn't need to set up this site. These illegal hunters are breaking the law, the law was passed democratically in parliament and affects us all, and no one should be allowed to ignore it just becuase they have the money and connections to do so. These people are not above the law and if it takes this sort of map to show that the police are turning a blind eye to crime then so be it.
Someone suggested "have they nothing better to do with their time?" I'd like to see what those moaners are doing to protect the animals and maintain the law in this country ... Oh, they're probably sitting in the pub or at home being whiners.”
by diver, st Austell
Sunday, February 20 2011, 3:05PM
“WOPTI more like WABWOT - what a b! waste of time.......
LACS first 4 letters of lacsative and we know what that produces!”
by George, Cornwall
Sunday, February 20 2011, 9:33AM
“For fox sake, have they nothing better to do with their time?
Betterfit they went out and did something beneficial to the whole community, if they are that concerned about crimes why dont they start a community watch group, or support victims of crime?..probably because that would entail actually doing something and not just pointing the finger and walking away.”
by Nigel, Beds
Saturday, February 19 2011, 6:53AM
“32 incidents have been reported to the police around the country in 4 days,
how many will result in a prosecution? I suspect none, It has already been
dubbed the WOPTI map (Waste of police time indicator).”
by ynop, Kernow
Friday, February 18 2011, 5:53PM
“This is a little one sided should it not show confirmed illegal activity and not just peoples made up notions of what is illegal?
I am neither for or against hunting as it doesn't affect me.”
by Geoffrey Woollard, South East Cambridgeshire
Friday, February 18 2011, 3:58PM
“"Controversy has surrounded the 2004 Hunting Act"
Not in my book. If anything, the Act needs strengthening. I hate the so-called 'sports' of fox hunting, hare coursing, stag hunting, etc., because I can't cope with the idea of killing animals for fun. There are millions more like me - a farmer and a born and bred countryman - out here. There are many less like the hunting-supporting and prominent Conservative MEP whom I advised to go drag hunting instead of 'the real thing' in order to comply with the Hunting Act (which was passed with support from all parties). Do you know what the 'man' said? 'Drag hunting is like sucking a sweetie with the wrapper on.' If one sucks this 'sweetie' without 'the wrapper on,' the fox is chased to exhaustion and then torn limb from limb by a number of hounds, not killed by the 'quick nip at the back of the neck,' as the mythologists claim. And what about the foxes that 'go to ground' and are then dug out and thrown, literally, to the hounds? This so-called 'sport' - like hare coursing and stag hunting - is utterly disgusting and those who participate in it ought to be ashamed of themselves. Politicians who back them ought to be doubly ashamed of themselves.”
by Urban Leprechaun, Devon
Friday, February 18 2011, 9:46AM
“Isn't this the Big Society in action?”