PROTESTERS marched through the streets to demand police action to prosecute people breaking the fox hunting ban.

Brighton Hunt Saboteurs Association and animal rights campaign groups marched from the Clock Tower in Brighton to the police station at John Street today.

They say the force does not do enough to prosecute hunters who break the Hunting Act laws.

It follows tensions over the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day hunts across Sussex and the rest of the country.

About 50 protesters joined the demonstration outside the police station, after the march through the city.

A group of two dozen waved flags as they marched in the road across Old Steine and into St James’s Street, before turning left toward John Street.

Some covered their faces with scarves while others wore fox masks and animal costumes to raise awareness of their opposition to blood sport.

They chanted: “Only scum kill for fun.”

There was a police car following behind them and ahead of them in Edward Street to ensure the protest passed peacefully and without risks to people’s safety.

While they walked the protesters received some support from members of the public, with motorists beeping their horns.

Campaigner Stefan Lindon, from Shoreham, said: “The law is not being upheld. The Hunting Act was passed in Parliament in 2003, and I campaigned for it.

“But it is being ignored. That is why I am marching today.”

Helen MacLean from Brighton said: “We have marched from the Clock Tower to the police station.

“We feel that hunters are flouting the law.

“Meanwhile, when sabs and members of the public have confirmed video evidence of hunters breaking the law, the police have ignored it.

“Nothing gets done.”

She said that one idea would be for hunt hounds to be muzzled so they are not able to rip foxes to pieces.

She said: “It’s not perfect, but it would be a start.”

Meanwhile Alan John from Brighton said: “I have taken part today because the laws are ineffective.

“There have been flagrant breaches of the law, where foxed have been torn to bits, but police have just stood by and watched.

“Those responsible for breaking the law are not prosecuted.

“I would question why not.”

He claimed fox hunting has previously had support among prominent Conservatives, including the Prime Minister Theresa May and former Prime Minister David Cameron, who both opposed the original ban in 2003.

Mr John said: “It is important for people to protest, and it is good that we have the freedom to do so.

“I know the police are stretched because of austerity.

“But if they were to simply not enforce the law in some areas there would be outrage.

“Yet in the countryside it seems that people are just getting away with it.

“I think it shows that the people in power don’t want hunting to be stopped.”

Samantha Eaton joined the protest.

She said: “You only get changes from protest.

“Hunting has been banned but there is no enforcement at all.

“It was as if they gave us a ban to placate the public who disagree with fox hunting, but nothing is done. We have gone backwards.

“Legislation does not matter if you cannot back it up with true punishments.”

Sussex Police said the protest had passed off peacefully, with about 65 people attending.

Chief Superintendent Neil Honnor said: "We facilitated the right for people to assemble and protest, while ensuring that the public could go out about their lawful business without obstruction.

"We work closely, without bias, with those who support hunting and those against it, encouraging engagement with us in order to reduce friction between them and thus the possibility of a breakdown in public order. We always take allegations of crime related to hunting very seriously, we investigate them and where there is sufficient evidence we will prosecute."