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TRAIL HUNTING BAN COULD COME LATER THIS YEAR
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Daniel Zeichner recently announced that the government will consult on its manifesto commitment to ban trail hunting “later this year”. This is the first indication of a timeline for potential new hunting legislation, which could be introduced as early as 2026.
The announcement was made during an adjournment debate initiated by Perran Moon, Labour MP for Camborne and Redruth, who called for the strengthening of the Hunting Act 2004. Moon’s proposals include banning trail hunting, removing exemptions, and introducing custodial sentences for those who break the law. He clarified that he has “no issue with drag hunting”.
The proposed consultation comes amid ongoing debate over the effectiveness of the existing legislation. Critics argue that the Hunting Act, introduced in 2004, is unenforceable and that individuals continue to break the law without consequence. However, Ministry of Justice prosecution statistics indicate that since 2010, there have been 744 prosecutions under the Act, resulting in 416 convictions – more than any other wildlife law.
Commenting on the potential ban, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “Hunting is in a challenging position that includes being faced with a massive government majority. Navigating a route through the complex politics of the coming years and emerging with a way forward for hunting will not be easy, but it will be made infinitely harder if we do not keep our own house in order. The Alliance will be committing everything to the fight, but scrutiny of hunting activity will be intense and, unfair as it may seem, we will be judged on the behaviour of the worst.”