Hunting ban comes into force

The Hunting Act will come into force tonight, in spite of opposition from pro-hunt campaigners.

From midnight tonight, it will be illegal to use a dog to hunt a wild mammal in England and Wales. Hare coursing will also be banned.

There are several exemptions under the Act, including ratting, rabbiting, stalking and flushing with one or two dogs and using a dog below ground to protect birds kept for shooting.

The Act comes into force despite attempts by pro-hunt group, the Countryside Alliance, to challenge the ban. The group took their case to the High Court last month, in an attempt to overturn the ban. They claimed that the Act was invalid, because the 1949 Parliament Act was used to introduce the act, following opposition from the House of Lords. However, the High Court decided that the Act was valid and the Appeal Court upheld their decision yesterday.

The Court of Appeal also refused the Countryside Alliance leave to appeal to the House of Lords and rejected their application to suspend the effect of the Act. However, the Alliance said yesterday that they would now petition the House of Lords direct to consider a further appeal.

Commenting on the Act, Alun Michael, Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Local Environmental Quality, said: "Hunt supporters have the right to demonstrate legally and to take action in the courts, but they do not have the right to flout a law that has been passed lawfully by a large majority of democratically elected Members of Parliament."

Mr Michael added: "The government has remained confident of its position throughout this challenge. We are also confident in respect of a quite separate action brought by the Alliance under human rights legislation. It is important to realise that even if the Human Rights Act challenge were to succeed, this would not affect the continuing validity of the Hunting Act."

The Minister said that he was "particularly pleased" that hunt organisers were discussing an intention to hunt within the law. He said: "That means doing all that is traditionally associated with hunting from the stirrup cup to red coats to enjoying a day in the fresh air, and that should cause problems for no-one - as long as they don't use their dogs to hunt a wild mammal."

It has been reported that many hunts in England and Wales have altered their schedules to take place today, in order to beat the ban. Some hunts are also expected to attempt to defy the ban and continue to hunt illegally.

Under the new legislation, anyone who breaks the ban could face a fine of up to £5000 and the confiscation of dogs, vehicles and articles used for hunting, as well as gaining a criminal record.

Chief Constables will be responsible for policing the ban. The Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidelines to police forces on how to deal with the new legislation.

(KMcA/SP)