Top foxhunting police officer once again accused of bias

Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, the national lead on fox hunting crime, has reiterated his claims that trail hunting provides “a smokescreen” for illegal activity. In response, the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) has accused him of “listening to the propaganda put out by our opponents”.

Hunting foxes with hounds became illegal in February 2005, however hunts adapted by taking up trail hunting where a trail, often made from fox urine is laid for the hounds to follow. ACC Longman, said that this legal practice gives people the opportunity “to carry on hunting – as they always said they would when the ban came in”. He believes illegality is widespread amongst the hunting community saying: “I don’t accept that it’s just a few bad eggs.”

BHSA managing director Oliver Hughes rejected the idea that trail hunting was being used to mask illegality: “He is listening to the propaganda put out by our opponents who claim that it is a smokescreen.”

Mr Hughes has previously stated that rural communities have begun to feel that certain elements of the police are “no longer acting impartially or fairly, and may sympathise with those advocating for a ban on lawful trail hunting.”