MP accuses police chiefs of 'cover up' over failed prosecution of alleged illegal hunt
Last updated 16th Oct 2025
An MP has accused the former head of a police force and a serving police and crime commissioner of a "cover-up" in the failed prosecution of an alleged illegal hunt.
Matt Western said the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) of Warwickshire, Philip Seccombe, and then-chief constable Debbie Tedds had been involved in halting a case against Warwickshire Hunt from going to court.
The Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington said Conservative PCC Mr Seccombe had "failed" constituents, as he called for the position to be abolished as he introduced a Bill in Parliament.
Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: "This became an issue for me in Warwickshire, not just through case work and wider constituents' concerns, and there are many, but was truly crystallised by the news story of a cover-up between Warwickshire Hunt, Warwickshire Police and the Police Crime Commissioner.
"Now, I won't get into the details but the allegations are that the PCC, Philip Seccombe, and the then chief constable Debbie Tedds engineered a cover-up that prevented a case of illegal fox hunting by Warwickshire Hunt going to court."
Mr Western claimed Mr Seccombe and Ms Tedds were both "supportive" of Warwickshire Hunt.
The police force issued a community protection notice (CPN) in 2022 against the hunt after complaints about highways being blocked and anti-social behaviour.
A CPN requires those issued with it to stop the behaviour which the CPN is centred around and ensure it is not repeated.
Warwickshire Hunt later appealed against the CPN. It was replaced by a legal agreement between the police and the hunt.
Earlier this year, a member of Warwickshire Hunt was found guilty and fined £1,000 for hunting a wild animal with dogs over an incident in October 2023.
Warwickshire Hunt Limited was acquitted of the same offence.
An independent review found Mr Seccombe did not influence policing of hunts, and that his membership of the Countryside Alliance - which is pro-hunting - had not affected his actions.
Mr Seccombe was first elected in 2016 and has been elected three times.
Mr Western has previously described the independent report, published in January, as a "sham".
He told the Commons on Wednesday: "Between October 2023 and November 2024 I wrote to the PCC and Chief Constable six times on this issue. They blanked me. They withheld the information from me, an elected MP, but also from the crime panel.
"The PCC claimed he didn't have the information, nor had he seen it. I believe he obstructed me from getting that information. As a result, neither I nor the residents of Warwickshire have any trust or confidence in Commissioner Philip Seccombe or the senior leadership team at Warwickshire Police.
"There was clearly collusion. That is what the public believes, and that is what I believe, too."
Presenting his Ten Minute Rule Bill, Police Crime Commissioners (Accountability and Review), which could lead to the position being abolished, Mr Western added: "It is increasingly clear that, for the most part, PCCs fail to meet the needs of their communities. They have not brought greater accountability or improved police outcomes.
"I would argue that the time has now come for us to change the system and do away with police (and) crime commissioners."
A spokesperson from Warwickshire Police said: "There has been regular and recorded contact between the former Chief Constable and Matt Western MP, and the force continues to update Mr Western on a regular basis, including offering meetings with the new Chief Constable.
"Statements on this matter and the independent review, plus the release of the previous civil protocol discussed, were shared in January 2025 and are available on Warwickshire Police’s website for anyone to view."
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe has made the following statement in response to comments made by Warwick & Leamington MP Matt Western in Parliament:
“I am deeply concerned by the comments made by Matt Western MP in the House of Commons on 15 October 2025. While I respect the right of Members of Parliament to raise matters of public interest, it is very concerning that Mr Western has chosen to make serious and unfounded allegations under the protection of Parliamentary privilege, without presenting any supporting evidence or engaging with my office directly outside of Parliament. This is the second time he has done so in relation to me. His comments seek to discredit policing as well as PCCs, and are likely to lead to a loss of legitimacy for those who keep the public safe
“Let me address the key points Mr Western raised. Specifically he claimed that I and the then Chief Constable, Debbie Tedds, ‘engineered a cover-up that prevented a case of illegal foxhunting by the Warwickshire Hunt from going to court’. This is simply untrue and, in my view, a deliberate and wilful misrepresentation of the facts.
“It appears Mr Western is conflating the issue of foxhunting with Warwickshire Police’s decision to issue – and later withdraw – a Community Protection Notice (CPN) relating to anti-social use of the roads by the Warwickshire Hunt. This was a civil matter, not a criminal case. The full circumstances have been examined in detail through an independent review commissioned by my office to ensure transparency and public confidence. That review found all decisions were appropriately made by Warwickshire Police, with no direction or influence from me.
“It is deeply regrettable that Mr Western has sought to undermine the review’s integrity by describing it as a “sham” – again, without offering any evidence to support his claim.
“Like all Warwickshire MPs, Mr Western was provided with a full copy of the published report, as were the members of the Police and Crime Panel. In addition, I have answered directly to Police and Crime Panel public scrutiny on multiple occasions, I have also provided members with a number of briefings which directly relate to this subject. No information has been withheld from the public.
“I must reiterate that, as Police and Crime Commissioner, I do not have the power to direct police investigations and I have no operational control over Warwickshire Police. Decisions relating to investigation and enforcement are matters for the Chief Constable and the officers of the force. Warwickshire Police has demonstrated its commitment to enforcing the law on foxhunting by successfully securing the prosecution a case of illegal hunting earlier this year. That prosecution clearly shows that the force takes such matters seriously and acts where evidence supports criminal proceedings.
“Assertions of collusion or cover-up are not only unsupported by evidence but also misrepresent the facts and the respective roles of the police and the PCC. For Mr Western to suggest otherwise is therefore a deliberate attempt to mislead Parliament.
“Mr Western also claims that I ‘blanked him’ and ‘withheld information’ when he wrote to me. This again is untrue. I have replied to each of his letters in full, providing as much detail as I had available to me at the time. To say otherwise is false and I am taking the unusual step of publishing his letters and my responses in full, so the public can make their own judgement.
“I have made repeated efforts to meet with Mr Western to discuss his concerns on these matters and other community safety issues, but he has refused each of these invitations. He is the only county MP to do so. I believe it is he who is doing the blanking and, in doing so, is failing to properly represent his constituents.
“It is deeply disappointing that, in making these misrepresentations to Parliament, Mr Western is seeking to boost support for a Bill which would seek to abolish the role of Police and Crime Commissioners altogether. Both in Warwickshire and across the country, Police and Crime Commissioners are delivering real benefits for their communities—investing in frontline policing, championing victims’ services, working closely with partners to improve community safety, and ensuring that local voices shape policing priorities.
“While scrutiny of the role is always welcome, it must be based on facts and fair analysis. PCCs play a crucial role in ensuring that policing is responsive, accountable and rooted in the community. Any review of the system should build on its strengths, not undermine the democratic voice it provides.
“Returning to the comments made specifically about me, I regard Mr Western’s attempts to smear my reputation—and that of Warwickshire Police—as not only deeply irresponsible but also potentially damaging to public confidence in policing. It is Mr Western who undermines trust by making assertions he knows are unsupported by evidence. It is Mr Western who misleads Parliament by presenting inaccurate claims to the House of Commons. I therefore call on him to withdraw these remarks, correct the public record, and apologise to the people of Warwickshire, who rightly expect honesty, integrity and accountability from their elected representatives.”