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The New Hunting Ban Consultation Outcome

OPEN CONSULTATION

The New Hunting Ban held an open consultation, which received 2230 responses and allowed members of the public to share their views on potential reforms to existing hunting legislation.

 

The majority of responses expressed concerns with the Hunting Act 2004 and its exemptions and loopholes, including a belief that hunts should no longer be able to evade prosecution through claiming animal deaths result from accidents.

 

There was also overwhelming support for strengthening the definition of hunting, removing exemptions, backing tougher penalties, and introducing regulations for drag hunting. 

Proposed Changes to The Hunting Act 2004

Through its Change Network, The New Hunting Ban brought together politicians, researchers, and wildlife rights campaigners to set out proposals that would ban Trail Hunting and fundamentally strengthen the Hunting Act 2004 for the remaining legal types of hunting that have yet to be banned. This would include removing exemptions, tightening loopholes, and introducing stronger penalties to bring a real end to hunting with hounds. 

​​​​The New Hunting Ban’s final Legislative Recommendations can be read in full HERE.

Key Recommendations:

Fundamentals

  • Rewrite legislation so that an offence is committed regardless of intent. When individuals act in a way that risks a mammal being hunted they will have committed an offence. 

  • Make ‘going equipped’ an offence.  

  • Make it an offence to enter dogs into setts, structures or buildings for the purpose of hunting where wildlife is likely present.

  • Strengthen the definition of hunting to include searching, locating and pursuing wild mammals. 

Assistance

Make it an offence to facilitate or enable hunting activity. This includes being present at a hunt and failing to prevent hunting activity from taking place. 

TRAIL HUNTING

​There should be a complete ban on trail hunting. The ban would make it an offence to organise, participate in, or facilitate trail hunting. 

Exemptions

All exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004 should be abolished. This includes flushing out animals, using birds of prey, and hunting rats and rabbits.

protect hounds

Any hounds seized or forfeited must be rehomed. No hound should ever be destroyed. 

DRAG HUNTING

Legitimate established drag hunts would be allowed to operate but must comply with certain regulations. These include advanced mapping of the routes, drag hunt specific training of hounds, and accepting inspections without notice amongst other regulations. 

PENALTIES

  • Penalties should be brought into line with the 2006 Animal Welfare Act and the 2003 Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) 

  • This means up to 5 years’ imprisonment and/or a £40,000 fine. 

  • Courts must consider banning orders meaning those convicted of an offence may be prevented from owning and having control of animals for at least 10 years. 

  • Offenders must pay for the costs to house, care for, and rehome seized hounds. Offenders may have to reimburse investigative costs such as forensic analysis. 

  • Extend the statutory time limit for prosecution to 2 years. 

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