Hunters and riders across England took part in what could be the final legal Boxing Day hunt this morning, just days after the Labour government unveiled plans to comprehensively outlaw fox hunting by sealing existing legal loopholes.
A Controversial Tradition's Potential End
The annual spectacle saw dozens of participants, accompanied by packs of hounds, follow pre-laid trails in the early morning sun on December 26. The events unfolded at multiple locations, including a notable gathering at Chiddingstone Castle in Kent, where prominent hunting supporter Nigel Farage was observed among the crowd.
Participants defended the tradition, describing it as an activity promoting "physical and mental well-being" that does not harm animals. However, this stance was directly challenged by protesters who infiltrated several hunts, arguing the practice facilitates illegal wildlife targeting. This perspective aligns with the newly published Labour animal welfare strategy, which explicitly aims to end the practice.
Two Decades of a Ban Undermined by 'Trail Hunting'
Fox hunting with dogs was banned across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland twenty years ago under Tony Blair's government. The legislation aimed to stop what was widely condemned as a cruel sport. However, a critical exemption has allowed "trail hunting" to continue legally.
This permitted activity involves riders and hounds following an artificial, animal-based scent laid along a predetermined route. Animal rights organisations, including the League Against Cruel Sports, have long contended that this provision acts as a "smokescreen" for illegal fox hunting. They allege that hunts often stray from the artificial trail to pursue and kill live foxes.
Emma Judd of the League Against Cruel Sports told the BBC that trails are "very rarely laid" properly and are frequently positioned near wildlife and livestock, leading to animals being killed. Labour's policy document, released on Monday, echoes this criticism and pledges to remove the permissions that enable trail hunting.
Labour's Pledge and the Road Ahead
The government's strategy signals a decisive shift, aiming to fully criminalise all forms of hunting with dogs by closing the legal avenues that have allowed it to persist since 2005. This move has been welcomed by animal welfare campaigners who argue the existing law has been systematically circumvented.
For supporters, the potential end of trail hunting represents the loss of a historic cultural tradition and a valued social activity. For opponents and the government, it is the final step in eradicating a practice deemed both inhumane and illegally perpetuated under the guise of a legal loophole. Today's events, therefore, may mark a significant turning point in a decades-long national debate.
