PROBLEM 

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Despite the Hunting Act 2004, fox, stag and hare hunting continue, creating ongoing animal welfare concerns. Data from the League Against Cruel Sports show that in the 2023‑24 season (November to March) nearly 1,400 incidents of suspected illegal fox hunting or related “hunt havoc”* were recorded across England and Wales, of which 526 reports related to suspected illegal hunting and 870 to“hunt havoc”.¹ These incidents demonstrate that hunting activities continue to carry significant risks to wildlife and domesticated animals, highlighting the need for effective safeguards where individuals have direct contact with animals.

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Convicted offenders may continue to operate in positions of trust and responsibility in roles involving direct and often unsupervised contact with animals, such as trail hunting, kennel management, hireling care or paying hunt followers.  Without any mandatory background verification, there is a risk that individuals with prior convictions for cruelty or hunting-related crimes could repeat harmful behaviours, compromise animal welfare or undermine ethical standards expected by landowners, local authorities and the public.  Ensuring proper vetting for these positions is crucial to protect this vulnerable group and maintain public confidence in regulated hunting activities.

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While existing enforcement processes determine prosecution outcomes, there is currently no safeguard to prevent those convicted of cruelty or wildlife offences from returning to activities involving animals. Introducing a proportionate background-checking mechanism would strengthen welfare oversight and public confidence, complementing rather than replacing existing law-enforcement frameworks.

 

SOLUTION 

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An Animal Offenders’ Register (AOR) would record individuals convicted of wildlife-related offences, providing an authorised, searchable system for relevant organisations.  It would enable:

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• Landowners and local authorities to verify applicants seeking land-use permissions for hunts.

• Hunting organisations can screen Master of Foxhounds, Whipper-Inns, Huntsman, Kennel Huntsman, Hunt Secretary, Hunt Committee, associated Hunter Hireling staff and Mounted Followers.

• Licensing and enforcement bodies to ensure that individuals with a record of cruelty to animals or “hunt havoc” cannot re-enter animal-related activities such as Drag/Clean Boot hunting.

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The AOR could be integrated into existing data-sharing frameworks, used for safeguarding, ensuring checks remain proportionate and administratively light.  It would act as a preventative safeguard, quietly flagging concerns to authorised bodies, much like existing background checks do in human safeguarding.  

 

IMPLEMENTATION AND FEASIBILITY

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The AOR proposal adapts the proven Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) model for use in animal wellbeing contexts.  Its design could draw on existing mechanisms such as:

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• Police National Computer data for convictions under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Wildlife.

• Local authority licensing systems (for kennels, hunts, or animal boarding); and 

• Established governance channels within hunting and land management organisations. 

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A short feasibility study, led jointly by Defra and the Home Office, with input from the National Wildlife Crime Unit, could define which offences would trigger registration, duration of inclusion, and rehabilitation criteria. 

 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

An incentive not to break the law. Not being able to join hunts could act as a greater deterrent than fines or imprisonment.

Enhanced animal welfare oversight.

Prevents those with a proven record of cruelty from regaining access to animals. 

Improved enforcement efficiency: gives hunts, councils and police a clear mechanism for compliance monitoring. Public confidence restored: demonstrates that rural and hunting communities are subject to modern, transparent welfare standards. 

 

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

 

1. Commission a feasibility study to define the legal and technical scope of an Animal Offenders Register. 

2. Pilot the register across selected local authorities or land-managed estates where hunting with hounds operates.

3. Mandate background verification for all hunting and kennel roles through existing licensing and membership systems. 

 

Sources

1. League Against Cruel Sports.“New figures highlight the need for the next government to strengthen fox hunting laws.” (13.6.24) Mike Nicholas, https://www.league.org.uk/news-and-resources/news/new-figures-highlight-the-need-for-the-next-government-to-strengthen-fox-hunting-laws/ 

2. *Hunt havoc: Disruption caused by hunting activities that do not involve directly killing the targeted animal, such as trespassing on private land, disturbing livestock or wildlife, damaging property, or causing public nuisance.