Hunt Official Charged Following League Against Cruel Sports Webinars
Litigation - Article Series from All-Creatures.org Articles Archive

FROM League Against Cruel Sports
February 2021

Charges follow the publication of leaked webinars by the Hunt Saboteurs Association and a subsequent investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Mark Hankinson, director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, has been charged with intentionally encouraging or assisting others to commit an offence under the Hunting Act 2004, contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crimes Act 2007.

It follows the publication of leaked webinars by the Hunt Saboteurs Association and a subsequent investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police. He is due to appear before Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on 4 March.

The League welcome the news that a director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association is being prosecuted as a result of the leaked training webinars, but we are seeking answers as to why more charges were not forthcoming.

Given the content of the webinars, we are astonished that more people were not charged. As the official complainant in this case the League Against Cruel Sports will be asking for a meeting with the Crown Prosecution Service to discuss this with them further.

Thank you for contacting some of the UK’s major landowners asking them to permanently ban hunting on their land. Many have suspended hunting, others (including Exmoor National Park, who have now been added to this list) have taken no action. In light of the recent charges, please contact them again, asking to permanently ban all hunting related activities. 

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