'No further action' against Cheshire Hunt despite video of dead fox

This is despite a video being made available that appears to show a huntsman putting a dead fox into a bin bag after hounds tracked it into woods at Church Minshull.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “In November 2018, an investigation was launched into the death of a fox killed while a hunt was taking place in Church Minshull.

“During this investigation detectives have gathered video evidence and interviewed a number of people present or with relevant information.

“Early investigative advice was also sought from the Crown Prosecution Service due the complexity of the case.

“As a result, the investigation team have concluded there is insufficient evidence that the incident amounted to deliberate and intentional hunting, as required by the Hunting Act 2004 and no further action will be taken.

“All parties involved have been informed of the outcome.”

Lesley Martin, of anti-hunting action group Cheshire Monitors, who recorded the footage, said this was the fourth case they had submitted to the police since 2016.

It is illegal to hunt wild animals with dogs under the Hunting Act 2004.

However, many hunts continue to meet for ‘trail hunting’ which sees the dogs track a scent that is laid across the countryside.

Lesley told The Standard: “Cheshire Police have made an effort to put together all these cases of clear law breaking.

“Unfortunately, the local CPS have yet again had to decline this case for court on the basis that although it’s clear what is going on here the Hunting Act is so weak we would lose the case in court against the Countryside Alliance’s well paid defence team.”

Cheshire Police says it is still “actively investigating a number of other incidents from the last hunting season” and is “grateful to all those who continue to work with and support us”.

The spokesman added: “We reiterate our commitment that where allegations of unlawful activity are made, they will be fully investigated.”