HSA news release 26th July 2005

Hunt Saboteurs Vote and Vow to Continue

The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) has decided to continue its activities and retain its title following the implementation of the Hunting Act.

At its Annual General Meeting, held on Saturday 23 July, members of the direct action organisation decided:

• to continue activities against hunts breaking the law or exploiting loopholes
• to provide evidence to the police and CPS
• to work in co-operation with other anti-hunting organisations to tighten up loopholes in existing legislation
• to retain the name "Hunt Saboteurs Association"

HSA spokesperson Nathan Brown explained: "Although there were some good arguments put forward for a change of name, in light of the fact that the hunting fraternity has vowed to use loopholes in the law or blatantly break it, the members of the HSA have decided to retain the current name.

"Members were also influenced by the lack of commitment to enforcing the ban by the Association of Chief Police Officers. The Hunting Act is a very simple and easily enforcable piece of legislation where the will to do so exists. Our members are now fully conversant with it."

He went on to outline future activities for the Association: "Whilst we will continue to be active against other bloodsports such as shooting, we realise that our experience and ability to get close to where the hunting takes place puts us in the best position to gather evidence of law breaking. We know who is involved in hunting and we know where it takes place. We believe that when the first succesful prosecutions take place there will be a drop in the level of illegal hunting taking place. Gathering evidence with video cameras will now be one of our main tactics, but where necessary we will still intervene to save the life of the animal being hunted."

Hunt saboteurs will be targetting grouse moors at the opening of the grouse shooting season on 12th August - "The Inglorious Twelfth".

They will also be monitoring the activities of hunts in early autumn when traditionally secretive early morning "Cub hunting" meets take place to train young foxhounds by hunting fox cubs.

ENDS

Timeline: the recent wave of violence against anti-hunt protestors since the Hunting Act was passed...

• 18 November 2004
  Parliament passes Hunting Bill. Hunting to be illegal on 19th February.
• 20 November
  3 saboteurs injured. One has to undergo emergency surgery to save his finger. South Devon Hunt, Devon
• 27 November
  Saboteur receives 5 stitches to head wound after attack. High Peak Harriers, Derbyshire
  17 year old saboteur receives broken nose after repeatedly headbutted. Crawley and Horsham Hunt, West Sussex
• 4 December
  Saboteurs threatened by terrierman wearing balaclava. Numerous assaults on saboteurs including a broken nose. Essex Farmers and Union/East Essex Hunt, Essex
• 11 December
  Saboteur's wrist broken in 2 places by terrierman. Essex Hunt, Essex Saboteur threatened by hunt supporter in front of police. High Peak Harriers, Derbyshire
• 18 December
  Saboteur ridden over by hunt rider twice. Essex Farmers and Union Hunt, Essex.
  Saboteurs punched and equipment stolen. Attempts made to smash saboteur's van window with log. Van whipped, kicked and thumped. Attempts made to drag saboteurs from van. Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, Dorset.
• 24 December
  2 cars smashed up and dead fox left on passenger seat of car. Chiddingfold Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt, West Sussex
• 27 December
  Saboteurs threatened with knife. One ridden down. Hunt supporters then armed themselves with iron bars and sticks. Weston and Banwell Harriers, Somerset.
  2 saboteurs rugby tackled to ground. Puckeridge Hunt, Suffolk.
• 31 December
  12 hunt saboteurs injured by mob of 30 thugs. East Essex Hunt, Essex.
• 1 January 2005
  Pregnant woman taken to hospital with head injuries after being whipped and ridden over twice by hunt staff. Essex Hunt, Essex.
• 3 January
  Hunt monitor's car destroyed in arson attack. West Sussex
• 4 January
  2 saboteurs receive broken rib, facial injuries and equipment is stolen. Surrey Union Hunt, Surrey.
• 8 January
  4 female saboteurs attacked receiving limb injuries / fractures, vehicle badly damaged. Crawley & Horsham Hunt, West Sussex.
• 15 January
  Saboteurs threatened and attacked, vehicle damaged. Cotswold Vale Hunt, Gloucestershire.
• 20 January
  Hunt supporter armed with a metal spike punctures sab Landrover door, barely missing the driver's leg. Duke of Beaufort's Hunt, Wiltshire
• 22 January
  60 year old female aboteurs ridden down - receives head and neck injuries. Dunston Harriers, Norfolk.
• 29 January
  2 hunt ‘stewards’ arrested after attack on hunt saboteurs. Avon Vale Fox Hunt, Wiltshire.
• 05 February
  2 hunt saboteurs injured, 15 attacked by 30 hunt thugs. East Kent Fox Hunt, Kent.
• 05 February
  Hunt saboteurs threatened with violence by hunt followers in front of police, obstruction and theft from motor vehicle ignored. Hampshire Fox Hunt, Hampshire.
• 09 February
  Saboteurs hit by quad bike, ridden down and whipped. Essex Farmers and Union Hunt
• 12 February
  Saboteur's finger broken, female sab had head held under water by hunt supporters, female saboteur repeatedly kicked in the head and head stamped on suffering a suspected broken jaw, gang of over 40 hunt supporters ambushed saboteurs. Essex Foxhounds, Essex.
• 17 February
  8 Saboteur's attacked and ITN film crew ambushed by 30 thugs and riders. Chiddingfold Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt, West Sussex.
• 05 March
  Saboteurs attacked by hunt riders and supporters. One hit bone handle of rider's whip, others ridden down and whipped. Essex Farmers and Union Hunt
• 12 March
  Hunt Master arrested on suspicion of causing Actual Bodily Harm and Criminal Damage, following a series of threats and attacks on hunt saboteurs and their vehicles. Essex Farmers and Union Hunt

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