[Animals] Hunt given police warning after animals killed

[GL HERO SHIMA]

A hunting group was issued a Community Protection Warning by police after two animals were killed, it has been revealed.

Albrighton and Woodland Hunt was issued the warning by Staffordshire Police in March, for conduct including the killing of a muntjac deer and a fox in September and December 2023.

CCTV showed the hounds were unsupervised and out of control after entering private land several times, police said.

The force said the incident caused property damage and "harassment, alarm, and distress" to residents and land owners in the area.

In the results of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the police force, published this week, police said this was the second Community Protection Warning issued to the hunt. The previous one was given in February 2019.

Staffordshire Police said the warning was issued after "persistent reports of anti-social behaviour and damage to property".

The hunt did not wish to provide a comment to the BBC.

Its website describes it as a "friendly traditional mounted hunt located in the beautiful West Midlands countryside" which hunts in parts of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.

It continues: "At all times the Albrighton & Woodland Hunt intends to hunt within the law, performing legal activities permitted by the Hunting Act."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjdkydgmn4go