Shooting organisations face up to gamebird release legal threat

BASC, the Countryside Alliance, the Game Farmers' Association and the National Gamekeepers Organisation are joining the government in defending a judicial review against the release of gamebirds in and near to designated sites.

The High Court has announced that the case should be heard by the end of October. The substantive work to date by the shooting organisations through representations has meant that this will not impact on shooting this season.

As interested parties, the shooting organisations will be able to contribute written an oral evidence to the hearing.

A spokesperson for the organisations said: "The government has made its position clear, yet Wild Justice continue to take actions that necessitate them using valuable time and resources defending a court case at a time of national crisis. We are pleased to stand alongside government in facing down this challenge by this anti-shooting group.

"Due to coronavirus, there is just a massive amount of uncertainty in rural communities and yet Wild Justice continue to push their extremist agenda. We should be under no illusion that this judicial review is yet another excuse for an attack on shooting."