Hunt saboteurs have complained that the latest rules proposed by the Tory manifesto will make sabotaging hunts “almost impossible” because they will face much more serious penalties after encroaching onto private land.
However landowners and shoots which have been targeted by the anti-shooting lobby, suffering trespass and property damage, will doubtless welcome the manifesto plans.
Trespassing is currently a civil offence. This means that the police are unable to intervene in such situations. Furthermore if landowners use force to remove intruders they can be charged with committing a number of offences.
Tory manifesto plans include making trespassing on private land a criminal offence
Intentional trespassing
Whilst the Conservative manifesto does not refer to reviewing hunting laws it does include plans to “make intentional trespass a criminal offence.”
The move has caused concerned comment amongst anti-hunt groups.
