A police notice that would have seen a historic hunt ordered to give seven days’ notice if they wanted to cross a road has been dropped at the eleventh hour.
The two-hundred-year-old Warwickshire Hunt was handed a community protection notice (CPN) in December 2022. Among the list of demands, it ordered them to provide officers with a map giving a precise location and timings of any road crossings a week before their meets.
Additionally, the order stated that the hunt had to provide the rural crime team with a calendar of all their events, the name of the person in charge and details of everyone who had control of the hounds.
Failure to comply with a CPN is an offence which can result in fines of up to £20,000 and a criminal record.
The hunt was due to appeal the order in court this week, but it was abandoned as they agreed a protocol with the force, which dropped the CPN.
The Countryside Alliance, a rural campaigning organisation, claims that police forces have become too reactive, basing decisions on trying to please animal rights activists online.
Polly Portwin, Hunting Director of the Countryside Alliance, said: “This case highlights wider concerns about the policing of hunts and other rural activities.
“It is the role of the police to properly implement legislation on the basis of evidence, not to respond to online animal rights campaigns.
“We are concerned that some forces have become increasingly reactive, and this case should be a lesson to the police about the pitfalls of trying to satisfy extremists.
“Not only does this create difficulties for people involved in perfectly legitimate activities, but it also wastes scarce resources that should be used to tackle real rural crime.”
The British Hound Spots Association, which is the governing body for hunting, welcomed the update.
The organisation argued that they did “not believe that there are any legitimate circumstances in which CPNs could be issued in relation to hunting activity.”
The BHSA’s Managing Director, Olly Hughes said: “We are pleased that Warwickshire Police and the Warwickshire Hunt now have an agreed protocol in place and that the appeal by the Hunt is no longer necessary as the CPN will be withdrawn. The BHSA will continue to support hunts which are served with CPNs or warning letters.”
“The BHSA has a strict code of conduct, and all accredited hunts must adhere to both that and all legislation. The police should not be trying to impose unjustified restrictions on a perfectly legal activity.”
Sam Butler, the Chairman of The Warwickshire Hunt said that they are “pleased this matter has been resolved”.
“We have always cooperated with the police and were surprised by the use of a Community Protection Notice,” Mr Butler said.
“The protocol that is now in place between the hunt and the police details a sensible working arrangement and the hunt looks forward to working with Warwickshire police in the coming season.”
Speaking to The Telegraph, a spokesperson for Warwickshire Police said: “ We met with the hunt last week to discuss a protocol they had proposed. The force was satisfied this protocol, if adhered to, would meet the goals of the CPN and that there was therefore no requirement for the CPN.
“We also felt that withdrawing the CPN in light of the agreed protocol would help us to build a better relationship with the hunt and avoid unnecessary expenditure of public money by going to court.
“We look forward to working with the hunt to ensure the protocol is implemented and they can go about their lawful activity while ensuring the safety of road users.”
It has been reported that Community Protection Orders have also been used elsewhere to ban activities including flying a model aeroplane, wearing a bikini, and singing in a private garden, as well as dictating where people can cry and how they close their front door, a recent report by campaign group the Manifesto Club found.
Josie Appleton, its founder, is calling for the “cowboy” powers to be scrapped as they criminalise legal activities simply because someone else doesn’t like them. Police officers and council officials can issue a community protection warning (CPW) and if this warning is breached it results in a CPN.
The number of CPNs issued by councils has risen from 9,546 in 2014-15 to 24,733 in 2019-20, the latest data available. There is no data or monitoring on the number issued by police forces.