Poole MP unveils plans to strengthen Hunting Act in bid to ‘end fox hunting’
Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan has outlined proposals to strengthen the Hunting Act, saying they would close loopholes used for illegal fox hunting
The MP for Poole has unveiled proposals to strengthen the UK's hunting laws, arguing that loopholes in existing legislation have allowed fox hunting to continue despite a ban introduced more than two decades ago.
Neil Duncan-Jordan has submitted his proposed Hunting Act 2004 Amendment Bill to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The Labour MP, a long-standing animal welfare campaigner, has emerged as one of the leading parliamentary voices calling for ministers to fulfil their manifesto pledge to strengthen anti-hunting legislation.
He previously coordinated a letter signed by more than 60 MPs and peers urging the Government to deliver "a meaningful ban on hunting with hounds".
As part of his work on the proposed legislation, MP Neil Duncan-Jordan accompanied hunt saboteurs observing the Grafton Hunt in December last year, saying the experience informed his proposals.
“I’ve spent months listening to animal welfare experts, hunt saboteurs and law enforcement to help me draft my Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill,” he said.
“The proposals we’ve put forward go beyond a simple ban on trail hunting which is just a smokescreen for fox hunting that has continued largely unaffected by the original Act.”
The proposed legislation would remove all exemptions within the Hunting Act that campaigners argue have been exploited to circumvent the law.
Mr Duncan-Jordan specifically highlighted the falconry exemption, claiming it has been misused despite having little practical relevance to traditional fox hunting.
His Bill would also introduce a new offence where it is reasonably foreseeable that a person's actions could result in hunting a wild mammal with dogs, alongside a new "going equipped" offence aimed at targeting preparation and intent before illegal hunting takes place.
The proposals also call for a review of funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit to ensure enforcement agencies have sufficient resources if new offences are introduced.
Mr Duncan-Jordan said: “This is about basic moral questions. What sort of society we want to live in and what standards we expect in a modern, compassionate country?” he said.
“Fox hunting, in its unnecessary and brutal cruelty, is far out of step with those shared values.”