Sussex Police "ignore" attacks on anti-hunt protesters, claims MP

6:29pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News By Ben James

Police are turning a blind eye to violent attacks on anti-hunt protesters, an MP has claimed.

Chris Williamson, MP for Derby North, pointed the finger at Sussex Police for, he alleges, ignoring the “criminal behaviour” of hunts from across the county.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he labelled the hunt community “rural ruffians” adding “to my mind, they are no different to the mindless yobs that blight some of our urban housing estates, but the police, regrettably, are turning a blind eye to their lawless behaviour.”

The Labour MP told fellow members that he had secured the debate to highlight the increasingly violent behaviour of the hunting community and worrying attitude of the police.

He pointed to a number of incidents in Sussex and singled out both the Crawley and Horsham and Southdown and Eridge hunts.

He alleged: “On November 3, a Crawley and Horsham huntsman was filmed breaking the wing mirror off a moving vehicle and then trying to smash the window with his whip.

“However, Sussex police, who were on the scene, refused to take action.

“On Boxing Day, five armed men from the Southdown and Eridge fox hunt attacked a solitary hunt monitor, beating him around the head and injuring his hands.

“Keys and equipment were stolen from the vehicle, yet the police refused to visit the hunt meet to identify the culprits.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman strongly denied officers were “turning a blind eye to criminal behaviour” adding that the force successfully prosecuted three members of the Crawley and Horsham Hunt last year.

She added that police investigations are currently under way |with regards to the two incidents mentioned in Parliament.

She said: “The police have to act with impartiality at all times but if criminal activity is reported to |us – or indeed witnessed by |officers – then of course it will be fully investigated, regardless of which party the alleged offenders are from.”

Michelle Nudds, south east regional director of the Countryside Alliance, said its members were frequently subject to harassment and threats by hunt saboteurs.

She added: “We would suggest that however passionately you |feel harassment and threats have no place in our society and we will continue to communicate with police forces to try to ensure the safety of hunts.”

Comments(20)

still waiting says...
7:48pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Hunting and hunting law has always been a classic "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario for the police. As sure as night follows day the pro-hunt lobby are never going to agree with the anti-hunt lobby, and the police (now forced to try to deal with matters using seriously bad legislation enacted, if I remember right, by a Labour administration will always be blamed by someone. Of course he is entitled to his views, and as a trustee of the League Against Cruel Sports and a reported former hunt sabotuer one could confidently expect that he would give his own version of a balanced view.

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MIDNIGHT COWBOY says...
8:55pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Have a look at 'The Protect our Wild Animals' website to see what else anti-hunt supporters have to deal with.

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Vigilia says...
9:29pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Come to any Meet and see for yourselves what the Huntsmen and Field have to put up with.

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pc?notme says...
9:46pm Fri 15 Feb 13

They should get a **** good beating every time they turn up.They are a waste of space try having a bath and getting a job.Bloody lowlifes

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John Steed says...
11:21pm Fri 15 Feb 13

sabs get no sympathy from me! try telling london mothers foxes are loving, sweet little critters

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mimseycal says...
11:43pm Fri 15 Feb 13

I feel sorry for the police and the fox. They are the two groups who really are the hapless victims in this whole debacle.

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Freeloaders says...
1:12am Sat 16 Feb 13

Lets be honest what would be the point in the police doing anything?These people would have the best solicitors money could buy and the chance of a conviction would be almost zero.Plus their friends in the courts are not really ever going to go against their own are they lets be honest.The mindless yobs that blight the streets he talks about just get bent legal-aid solicitors.If you think im talking out my backside please read web page solicitors from hell.If the goverment have not taken it down again.I spoke only a few weeks back to the solicitor that set the company up to try and change things.He told me 100% the poor are getting know justice from these legal-aid solicitors.Plus he even has friends in the police that feel the same way about it.

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spa301 says...
7:07am Sat 16 Feb 13

pc?notme wrote:
They should get a **** good beating every time they turn up.They are a waste of space try having a bath and getting a job.Bloody lowlifes
yawn......zzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzz

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MIDNIGHT COWBOY says...
7:52am Sat 16 Feb 13

I have seen at first hand what blood thirsty sadists the hunt supporters really are. They use bully boy tactics in order to intimidate and achieve a kill.

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Plantpot says...
8:00am Sat 16 Feb 13

The hunt saboteurs are simply self proclaimed busy bodies who push and prod and provoke quite deliberately. It is no surprise that some pro hunt people aren't able to contain their anger.

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006 and a third says...
9:20am Sat 16 Feb 13

Plantpot wrote:
The hunt saboteurs are simply self proclaimed busy bodies who push and prod and provoke quite deliberately. It is no surprise that some pro hunt people aren't able to contain their anger.
Your bloodlust and eagerness to see animals tortured says everything people need to know about you. Did it start at boarding school?

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Fercri Sakes says...
9:40am Sat 16 Feb 13

pc?notme wrote:
They should get a **** good beating every time they turn up.They are a waste of space try having a bath and getting a job.Bloody lowlifes
Well that's a bit harsh on those fox huntsmen. A few of them didn't inherit their wealth and a couple of them actually have jobs too. They do have the odd bath so I think that's just the 'country' aroma you can smell.

Also, next time check your punctuation as you're giving the saboteurs a bad name.

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Juleyanne says...
9:43am Sat 16 Feb 13

I disagree with fox hunting and once went to peacefully protest. I was not trespassing on anyone's land and I had never attended before. I was horrified by the threats of violence and intimidation by the pro hunt supporters who I can only describe as bullies and nasty thugs who appear to think nothing of threatening women and pensioners who dare to question their cruel and unethical so called sport!

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Plantpot says...
10:16am Sat 16 Feb 13

006 and a third wrote:
Plantpot wrote:
The hunt saboteurs are simply self proclaimed busy bodies who push and prod and provoke quite deliberately. It is no surprise that some pro hunt people aren't able to contain their anger.
Your bloodlust and eagerness to see animals tortured says everything people need to know about you. Did it start at boarding school?
None of what you said there is true. You're really quite creepy aren't you? You appear to have some sort of socialist stereotyping thing going on.

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006 and a third says...
10:41am Sat 16 Feb 13

Plantpot wrote:
006 and a third wrote:
Plantpot wrote:
The hunt saboteurs are simply self proclaimed busy bodies who push and prod and provoke quite deliberately. It is no surprise that some pro hunt people aren't able to contain their anger.
Your bloodlust and eagerness to see animals tortured says everything people need to know about you. Did it start at boarding school?
None of what you said there is true. You're really quite creepy aren't you? You appear to have some sort of socialist stereotyping thing going on.
My abhorrence of animal torture and nasty, thuggish behaviour is bound to put us at odds. You support hunting with dogs. Simple.
People only need to view the comments of others disgusted by such behaviour to understand where we're both coming from. I think that settles matters on who is creepy.
Did your joy of the hunt start with pulling legs off spiders? I could quite honestly understand a connection.

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Plantpot says...
11:40am Sat 16 Feb 13

006 and a third wrote:
Plantpot wrote:
006 and a third wrote:
Plantpot wrote:
The hunt saboteurs are simply self proclaimed busy bodies who push and prod and provoke quite deliberately. It is no surprise that some pro hunt people aren't able to contain their anger.
Your bloodlust and eagerness to see animals tortured says everything people need to know about you. Did it start at boarding school?
None of what you said there is true. You're really quite creepy aren't you? You appear to have some sort of socialist stereotyping thing going on.
My abhorrence of animal torture and nasty, thuggish behaviour is bound to put us at odds. You support hunting with dogs. Simple.
People only need to view the comments of others disgusted by such behaviour to understand where we're both coming from. I think that settles matters on who is creepy.
Did your joy of the hunt start with pulling legs off spiders? I could quite honestly understand a connection.
None of what you have said about me is true.

You are not worth any further consideration.

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006 and a third says...
12:34pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Plantpot, you posted the following on this web site on the 27th December:

"Incidentally, I do wish the pro-hunt people would stop talking about pest control and just admit the whole thing is enjoyable. Man is a hunting beast by nature, it's what we were born for. Why do you think the armed forces are popular career choices?".

So, you don't even use the "pest control" smokescreen - you're into more of a "hunting beast by nature" mindset and want others to admit the whole thing as "enjoyable" without once condemning the vicious cruelty repeatedly captured on camera?

You claim that none of what I asked was true. I would have asked for clarification but I think I've seen enough. Thanks.

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whereisthe...? says...
2:26pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Good to see something about this travesty.


Cameron himself still gets involved in a yearly illegal hunt (though he is careful not to ride himself).


Google it if you dont believe me. Tories creating atmosphere of 'go ahead, no one will stop you'.



And at same time persecuting homeless for seeking shelter in the richest scums empty, unused properties. And these multiple property owners who then whine are often the sort who illegally hunt!


Backwards world.

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mimseycal says...
3:14pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Actually, it is David Camerons' local hunt that admitted hunting illegally (that is with hounds). Cameron himself does hunt but was not involved in the illegal (with hounds) hunts ... or so we are told.

Now maybe it is a Huhne story (a'la speeding points) or not ... who knows. Maybe we'll have to wait till he falls out with someone in his local hunt ;-)

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Plantpot says...
10:08am Sun 17 Feb 13

006 and a third wrote:
Plantpot, you posted the following on this web site on the 27th December:

"Incidentally, I do wish the pro-hunt people would stop talking about pest control and just admit the whole thing is enjoyable. Man is a hunting beast by nature, it's what we were born for. Why do you think the armed forces are popular career choices?".

So, you don't even use the "pest control" smokescreen - you're into more of a "hunting beast by nature" mindset and want others to admit the whole thing as "enjoyable" without once condemning the vicious cruelty repeatedly captured on camera?

You claim that none of what I asked was true. I would have asked for clarification but I think I've seen enough. Thanks.
This is the last time I will engage with the person with your user name.

Firstly, I find it disturbing that you would trawl through the Argus website to find my quote; I sincerely hope you get the help you need. Secondly, where do I refer to myself? Thirdly, what is there to disagree with?

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