Latest news with #HuntingAct
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Woman Was Walking Her Dog in a Forest When She Was Attacked by Bear. Now She's in Critical Condition
A woman was left in critical condition after a bear attacked her while she walked her dog in a forest The attack happened on Tuesday, May 27, a few miles outside Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital 'If it is necessary to increase the number of hunters in the field, we will do so," local authorities saidA woman is in critical condition after she was attacked by a bear while walking her dog in a forest in Slovenia on Tuesday, May 27. The attack happened in the evening, and bears are common around Škofljica, where the incident occurred, according to local authorities. The Associated Press reported that it took place about six miles outside the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. 'There are several hunters in the field at the same time, who are responsible for possibly deterring bears from points where contact with humans could occur,' officials wrote in an English translation of the statement. 'If it is necessary to increase the number of hunters in the field, we will do so.' Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. This month, authorities approved the culling of 206 brown bears as their population continues to rise nationwide, per the Slovenia Times. In nearby Slovakia, the government has approved plans to sell culled brown bear meat to the public in an effort to reduce waste, according to the BBC. The outlet also notes that brown bears are protected by strict hunting regulations in the European Union and can only be killed in special circumstances, such as when they pose a direct threat to humans. 'Since the state has included bears on the list of protected animals with the Hunting Act, hunters without explicit instructions or permits from the competent ministry do not have any authority to take active action, so they can only observe and monitor the possible movement of bears,' Škofljica authorities said in the statement. Read the original article on People
Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Another month may kill assisted dying bill
Twenty years ago, parliament took its time debating whether foxes could be hunted with hounds, rather than shot as vermin or left alone to savage rabbits and nesting birds. Tony Blair's Hunting Act — a manifesto pledge — followed a million-quid donation from animal rights campaigners, something that his wingman, Lord Mandelson, lately admitted in The Times's How to Win an Election podcast was 'pretty transactional'. Yet it got a lot of nuanced debate and 700 hours of Westminster time. So far, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has not reached double figures in parliamentary hours. It was put forward not by the prime minister — although, in giving it time, he said he was 'pleased to keep a promise to Esther Rantzen'
BBC News
22-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
How a newspaper poll led to death threats and panic buttons for hunting bill MP
Ex-MP Mike Foster had little idea a campaign initiated by his constituents to ban hunting with dogs would lead to death threats and panic buttons being installed at his home amid fears for his 20 years after the Hunting Act he spearheaded became law Mr Foster, then Worcester MP, remembers how all those worries suddenly became "part of the day job". It had all begun in 1997 when as a new MP he "drew number one" in the ballot for MPs to bring private member's bills to decades later, their remains tension among the hunting and animals rights fraternities over how the law is applied. Mr Foster was part of the Labour intake after his party's election landslide in 1997, and he said coming first enabled him to pretty much bring forward whatever legislation he wanted. However, he decided to leave the subject to the people he served and asked a local paper to organise a poll to ask constituents what their most burning issues result showed a majority wanting to see hunting with dogs banned - and it came after Labour's manifesto pledge that, if elected, it would allow a free vote on the issue. The paper counted the responses and the scene was set for the private member's bill to be the tool to deliver that promise, and "my adventure with the issues with hunting with dogs began", Mr Foster said."It could have caused me immense difficulty had they voted for something I didn't want to do - but that was the risk I took," he remembered."But I genuinely, perhaps naively, as a new MP wanted to make sure the views of my constituents were being taken on board."The act became law on 18 February 2005, making it illegal to use dogs to chase foxes, deer, hares and other wild were some exemptions built in, such as trail hunting, which was introduced as a "cruelty-free" hunting involves using a rag soaked in animal scent, which is then dragged along to lay a trail for the hunt to follow. 'Panic button by our bed' Inevitably though, dogs can encounter a real fox, and the law said that under those circumstances the hunt was meant to call them critics say trail hunting has been exploited as a smokescreen by hunts to enable them to continue killing foxes and hares."I hoped once the act was passed.. the law abiding community.. would literally obey the law and that would be the end of it," Mr Foster said. "Unfortunately, that is not what happened." In the build up to the controversial bill becoming law, he said he and his family were confronted with a stark reality about their safety because of his campaign."There was a bombardment of mail - thankfully social media didn't exist in the way it does now, otherwise it would have been totally impossible," he said."We went through the gambit of death threats, threats to the family, and my kids were really young at the time."When you see something arrive in the post suggesting that your three kids are fed to the dogs, it might have been a nutter, but part of you will go, 'Oh god, is this where we really want to be?'."My kids grew up knowing there was security in the home and a button they weren't allowed to touch."We literally had a little box in the upstairs and a button by our bed that wasn't a remote for the TV, it was there for a purpose."The issue that perhaps a lot of people don't fully understand is that Monday to Thursday night, you're in Westminster, so my wife and three young kids were on their own in Worcester and it doesn't take a genius to work out where you live. It was difficult." It was not something he anticipated when he became an MP, but Mr Foster praised West Mercia Police and others who were "absolutely tremendous" in helping them remain safe."When you have to give details of what school your kids go to and what routes they take to school, you take it seriously," he Foster was defeated in the 2010 general election by Conservative Robin Walker. But in 2015, two days before a parliamentary free vote on changes to the law in England and Wales, Mr Foster revealed he found a dead fox on his December, the government said it was committed to a trail hunting ban, citing its use as a loophole and smokescreen to kill foxes. 'Trail hunting works' However Chris Bowers, 38, a trail layer for the Ledbury Hunt in Herefordshire, said he adhered to the law, but was so concerned about being monitored that he videos what he does."There's so much talk that we're not doing it correctly that we have this as evidence that we are doing it correctly, so if anything comes back on us we've got proof and evidence to say we are hunting within the law," he said."It does seem not the way of life, but we've got restrictions put in place and we have to adhere to them."Mr Bowers felt trail hunting "works" and accepted "it was the way it is now", but it is untrue trails lead to animals getting hurt."These hounds can go through fields of sheep, fields of lambs, they don't even look at them," he said."They are trained for this. They know what they're following, following the huntsman, following the trail." However Emma, who monitors hunts as a member of Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, said she had seen evidence that foxes were still being killed."If hunting actually stopped I would have so many other things I would prefer to be doing," she said."I wouldn't be out there unless I absolutely believed that animals were being killed still, which they are."Trail hunters were "going out intentionally to hunt animals" in areas likely to have wild animal populations, she groups have had 20 years "to get on top of this", she added. 'Difficult to enforce' Twenty years on, does Mr Foster think the law should be tighten to eliminate the the likes of trail hunting? "I say this reluctantly, but yes I think we do," he said."There was always this dilemma that we grappled with - having a pure ban on hunting with dogs that made it difficult to enforce... against something that wasn't a complete ban, let's say a licensing scheme, but is very easy to enforce."At the moment there are grey-ish areas that can only be concluded in court."We ended up saying actually, going for a pure ban is probably better on animal welfare grounds and then we just accept or hope that the enforcement of the law... comes through in time."Ultimately though, Mr Foster hoped as well that under the law people would still be able to climb into the saddle."We wanted people to still have a ride on their horse and the thrill and excitement of all that - we just didn't want an animal to suffer at the end of the day and unfortunately we're going to have to deal with trail hunting, I think," he added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trail hunting being used as 'smokescreen'
A senior police officer believes the ban on fox hunting is still regularly being broken 20 years after it was introduced. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, the national lead on fox hunting crime, said hunts where hounds follow a pre-laid trail provided "a smokescreen". But the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) accused him of "listening to the propaganda put out by our opponents". The Labour government previously said it intended to tighten the ban to include trail hunting. Hunting foxes with hounds became illegal in February 2005 following years of debate. Hunt supporters warned it could hurt rural communities and cost thousands of jobs, but two decades on almost all the hunts are still operating. There are 170 registered hound packs in England and Wales and a further eight in Scotland, according to The Masters of Foxhounds Association. They adapted by taking up trail or "drag" hunting - getting staff to lay a trail, sometimes made from fox urine, which the hounds then follow. But what happens when the dogs encounter a real fox is still controversial. The hunt is meant to call them off, but ACC Longman, who leads on hunting for the National Police Chiefs' Council, believes trail hunting "is providing a smokescreen". He said it gave people the opportunity "to carry on hunting – as they always said they would when the ban came in 20 years ago". ACC Longman believes illegality is widespread: "I don't accept that it's just a few bad eggs." He said in all the cases he had reviewed, trail hunting had been used as a defence. There have only been about 30 successful prosecutions of organised hunts under the Hunting Act, according to the BHSA. The BHSA rejected the idea trail hunting was being used to mask illegality. "He is listening to the propaganda put out by our opponents who claim that it is a smokescreen," said managing director Oliver Hughes. Police are often asked to examine footage provided by the public, for example an incident near Taunton last month. Eyewitness Wendy saw hunt staff and hounds in a field near her home. She believes the film she took shows them killing a fox. "You could see all the dogs in the pack tearing at something very large. The whole thing was absolutely horrendous," she said. "I'm 99.9% certain it was a fox - by the remnants we found the next day." She passed all the video on to Avon and Somerset Police, which said it was investigating. While they do, the British Hound Sports Association said it would not comment. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Hunters prepare for another battle with government Called 'murdering scum' but still fighting for the hunt Are people still fox hunting? National Police Chiefs' Council British Hound Sports Association Avon and Somerset Police Masters of Foxhounds Association
BBC News
18-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Trail hunting used as 'smokescreen' 20 years on from ban
A senior police officer believes the ban on fox hunting is still regularly being broken 20 years after it was Chief Constable Matt Longman, the national lead on fox hunting crime, said hunts where hounds follow a pre-laid trail provided "a smokescreen".But the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) accused him of "listening to the propaganda put out by our opponents".The Labour government previously said it intended to tighten the ban to include trail hunting. Hunting foxes with hounds became illegal in February 2005 following years of supporters warned it could hurt rural communities and cost thousands of jobs, but two decades on almost all the hunts are still operating. There are 170 registered hound packs in England and Wales and a further eight in Scotland, according to The Masters of Foxhounds adapted by taking up trail or "drag" hunting - getting staff to lay a trail, sometimes made from fox urine, which the hounds then what happens when the dogs encounter a real fox is still controversial. The hunt is meant to call them off, but ACC Longman, who leads on hunting for the National Police Chiefs' Council, believes trail hunting "is providing a smokescreen".He said it gave people the opportunity "to carry on hunting – as they always said they would when the ban came in 20 years ago".ACC Longman believes illegality is widespread: "I don't accept that it's just a few bad eggs." He said in all the cases he had reviewed, trail hunting had been used as a defence. There have only been about 30 successful prosecutions of organised hunts under the Hunting Act, according to the BHSA rejected the idea trail hunting was being used to mask illegality."He is listening to the propaganda put out by our opponents who claim that it is a smokescreen," said managing director Oliver are often asked to examine footage provided by the public, for example an incident near Taunton last Wendy saw hunt staff and hounds in a field near her home. She believes the film she took shows them killing a fox. "You could see all the dogs in the pack tearing at something very large. The whole thing was absolutely horrendous," she said."I'm 99.9% certain it was a fox - by the remnants we found the next day."She passed all the video on to Avon and Somerset Police, which said it was they do, the British Hound Sports Association said it would not comment.
