Reporting stag hunts to police and landowners

In brief: What to look out for

All stag hunting takes place in locations in both Devon and Somerset.

Offences:

• Stag and deer hunting on land where hunting is banned 
• Stag and deer hunting using more than two dogs
• Trespass and Armed Trespass
• Road Traffic Act violations – illegal use of quad bikes, road blocking, dangerous behaviour on roads, parking on grass verges
• Intimidation of the public

There are other potential offences.

In Brief: Who to report it to

• Police and Landowner for stag and deer hunting on land where hunting is banned
• Police and Landowner for stag and deer hunting using more than two dogs 
• Landowner for Trespass
  
• Police and Landowner for “armed trespass”
  
• Police for Road Traffic Act violations – illegal use of quad bikes, road blocking, dangerous behaviour on roads, parking on grass verges
  
• Police for Intimidation of the public
  
• Health and Safety Executive for dangerous behaviour on the roads

Illegal stag hunting

stag and hind hunting on land where hunting is banned

All stag hunting takes place in locations in Devon and Somerset.

In Brief: The Hunting Act has several loopholes called “exempt hunting”. Stag hunts  pretend to be “exempt hunting”, and they usually use the excuse that they are hunting for “research and observation”. But to do this, they MUST have the landowner’s permission. The minute they chase the stag or hind on to land where they have no permission, they are breaking the law.

Landowners who do not allow hunting: National Trust, Forestry England, League Against Cruel Sports, Wessex Water and South West Water. 

Stag hunting with more than two dogs

The law states that the hunts cannot use more than two dogs. If the hunts use three or more hounds to pursue the stag or hind, they are breaking the law, and this must be reported to the police.

What evidence you need and how to report it

If you see a stag being chased on land where you think hunting is banned, or with more than two dogs, make certain that you know exactly where they are, and take video or a photo of it (without endangering yourself), with the location noted. A good app to have loaded on your phone is

What3words (for Apple)
What3Words (for Android)

Then let the police know on 101, or online.
For Devon and Cornwall incidents
For Avon and Somerset

It is difficult for any of the non-hunting landowners to watch for the hunt all the time. So if you are visiting National Trust properties, a Forestry England wood, or any of the sanctuaries and areas controlled by the League and you see the hunt, report it to the POLICE and the LANDOWNER. Reporting to the landowner may not be enough to get anything done.

To make a report, it is enough that you SUSPECT the hunt of using land where they have no permission. You might not be 100% certain. It’s crucial that you state in the report that you think the hunt is illegal because of the location and lack of permission from the landowner. It is for the police to determine who owns the land and whether the hunt has permission. Police might be reluctant to make any effort to find that out for themselves, but IT IS THEIR JOB TO DO THAT – so you need to follow it up, and keep following it up until you have a clear and accurate response to your report. Be absolutely clear in all communications with the police that your report concerns lack of landowner permission. If you need any help, please contact info@actionagainstfoxhunting.org

We’ll do everything we can to get things moving.

Hence the crucial importance of a precise location and evidence in your report. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE RISKS WHEN COLLECTING EVIDENCE.

landowners that DO NOT ALLOW HUNTING – exmoor

The National Trust owns a number of properties in Exmoor. The coloured areas on this map show the parts they own.

If you want to find out what these properties are called, you can use this interactive map. Even before the Hunting Act, the National Trust banned stag hunting on its land. in 1997, they commissioned a report – the Bateson Report – which showed how appalling cruel it is and even they were shocked, so they banned it immediately. However,  stag hunts are constantly trespassing on NT land, and it appears that the Trust is doing very little to stop them.
Contact: sw.customerenquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

Forestry England owns a number of woods in Exmoor.

Hunting is not permitted on FE land. Wistland Pound, Nutcombe Bottom, Chargot Wood, Kennisham Hill and Croydon Hill are all owned by FE. The FE’s  interactive map shows the locations of the woods, and specific information about the woods can be found here. Contact info: westengland@forestryengland.uk
0300 067 4800

The League Against Cruel Sports  560 acres of land on Exmoor and have the sporting rights for over a further 2,000+ acres.The best known is Baronsdown.  Below is a map, showing roughly where most of the League land is. If you see a stag or hind being pursued anywhere in this area, contact the League and they will let you know if it is land they own (or have sporting rights for). https://www.league.org.uk/animal-crimewatch/report/

Two utility companies – Wessex Water and South West Water also own land. These companies do not allow hunting.

Quantocks – Landowners that do NOT allow hunting

Somerset Wildlife Trust owns Holford Kelting and Aisholt Wood on the Quantock Hills. They don’t permit hunting, but they don’t enforce it.

The Forestry Commission own Great Wood, St Audries and Kings Cliff. Hunting is not permitted.

The National Trust owns a number of properties on the Quantocks.

Trespass, Armed Trespass and Road Traffic violations

Trespass, Armed Trespass and Road Traffic violations

FOR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING OFFENCES, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE LOCATION (WHAT THREE WORDS) AND THE TIME. COLLECT EVIDENCE (WITHOUT ENDANGERING YOURSELF) AND IF POSSIBLE TAKE A CLEAR PICTURE OF ANY PEOPLE INVOLVED.

TRESPASS
Trespass is a civil matter, meaning that the police are not interested. However, the landowner IS. The hunts should not be on any land at any time, no matter what they are doing, if they have no permission to be there. This means that if you see them on National Trust, Forestry England, League Against Cruel Sports, Wessex Water, South West Water, they are trespassing. Please contact the LANDOWNERS to let them know.

National Trust: sw.customerenquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

The League Against Cruel Sports
https://www.league.org.uk/animal-crimewatch/report/

Forestry England
westengland@forestryengland.uk
0300 067 4800

ARMED TRESPASS
All stag hunts have some members with guns. If you see anyone who even looks like a hunt servant (rider, person on quad bike etc) on land that they are not permitted to be on, phone the police on 999 immediately. It is HIGHLY LIKELY that they are carrying a gun and if they are, they are committing Armed Trespass.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/27/section/20

ROAD TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
It is an offence to wilfully block a road. (Highways Act). If you have to stop your car for any length of time because the road is blocked by the hunt (this could be horses, hounds, vehicles, hunt staff, hunt followers) phone the police on 999 and report it immediately. Be clear on the location and take evidence.  Make sure you get a reference number (police sometimes text it to you afterwards).

It is an offence to have dogs out of control on the road. Take photos and report to the police. If the danger is immediate, phone 999.

It is a offence to take a horse on to a footpath. Report on 101 afterwards.

It is an offence to ride a horse on the wrong side of the carriageway. Take photos and report on 101 afterwards, unless the danger is immediate in which case ring 999.

It is an offence to park on a grass verge. Hunt followers do this all the time. Take photos and report to the police on 101 afterwards.

QUAD BIKES
If you see two or more people on a quad bike, take a photo (include the number plate, even if they have covered it in mud), and report on 101 afterwards. If you see a child on a quad bike, ring 999 immediately.

If you see anyone on a quad bike driving dangerously (weaving quickly in among moving vehicles, riding on the wrong side of the carriageway, or riding on a steep verge) ring 999 immediately. All quad bikes on the road must be approved, registered, taxed and have an MOT. Most quad bikes cannot be used on the roads because they do not meet safety standards. You can check the registration with DVLA, if you can see the number plate. However, many quad bike riders cover their numberplate with mud for exactly this reason. Not displaying your numberplate is also illegal. It is for the police to decide whether the quad bike is being ridden dangerously or without the correct identification etc. Your job is to report them and keep reporting them.
https://www.gov.uk/quad-bikes-the-rules

VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION
Violence and intimidation are common at a stag hunt. The hunters don’t want to be seen or recorded. If they step out of line at all (swearing in public is an offence, for instance) call the police on 999.