RSPCA drops final case against a hunt

The RSPCA has today dropped its last prosecution of a hunt. Will Bryer, master and huntsman of the Cattistock hunt in Dorset had been charged with one offence of hunting a fox with dogs, alleged to have taken place on 2 December 2014. However, in advance of a hearing due to take place at Weymouth Magistrates Court on Friday (20 March) the RSPCA has written to Mr Bryer's solicitor Jamie Foster, of Foster Griffin, stating it will not be pursuing the prosecution as there is no evidence on which they could legitimately continue.

The RSPCA had initially relied on video evidence collected as part of a covert surveillance operation by another animal rights group, the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Mr Bryer said: "In the 10 years since the Hunting Act came into force no one involved with the Cattistock hunt has been convicted of breaking the law. I am very pleased that the RSPCA has finally seen sense and dropped the case against me, but there was never any justification for it in the first place."

Tim Bonner, director of campaigns for the Countryside Alliance, added: "This was the only outstanding prosecution of a hunt by the RSPCA and we hope it will be the last time the charity involves itself in such a case. There is a clear conflict of interest in a political campaigning organisation bringing prosecutions of this sort and the RSPCA should take the advice of its own Independent Reviewer (see note) and leave such allegations to be independently considered by the police and Crown Prosecution Service."

Notes for journalists

• The RSPCA commissioned a report into its prosecution strategy in December 2013. The report, by former CPS chief inspector Stephen Wooler, was released in October 2014 and advised that the RSPCA stopped prosecuting hunts.

• Countryside Alliance figures show that in 2013 (the last year the RSPCA carried out prosecutions of hunts before this case) 79% of the summonses issued by the RSPCA against hunt staff and supporters failed.

• These failed summonses cost the tax payer more than £100,000, which was paid from central funds rather than by the RSPCA.