Sunday, February 13, 2005
LOW PRIORITY OF HUNT BAN
Enforcing Hunting Ban Is Low Priority for Police - Clarke
By James Lyons and Nick Mead, PA
Police chiefs are right to give a low priority to enforcing the fox hunting ban, Home Secretary Charles Clarke said today.
The pastime will finally be outlawed across England and Wales on Friday after years of political controversy.
However, those who flout it may escape arrest according to internal documents from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), published in The Observer.
“This has not been afforded high priority in the National Policing Plan,” one memo said.
ACPO also reminds senior officers that the new law “confers a power to arrest, not a duty”.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has been keen to avoid a showdown with the pro-hunting lobby which has threatened a campaign of direct action in the run-up to the election.
Mr Clarke stressed that the policing of the ban was a matter for chief constables.
But he said: “If you look at the priorities police have to deal with – dealing with drugs, people trafficking, crime, all kinds of issues – I don’t expect fox hunting to be very high on the priorities of any particular police force.
“What I do believe is that the police will be very sensitive in the way they address it.”
That risks anger from Labour backbenchers who forced through the ban.
A massive show of civil disobedience is expected next weekend with up to 400,000 supporters flocking to 270 hunts.
Potentially violent meets are to be categorised in the same way as football matches, according to the ACPO documents.
However, Mr Clarke played down the potential for trouble and said policing would be “proportionate and effective”.
“As a matter of fact, I don’t believe there will be anything like the kind of lawlessness that some people have talked about,” he told Sky News’s Sunday with Adam Boulton.
“Most people involved in hunting are law abiding individuals and I think they will respect the law.”
Earlier, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said it was “inconceivable” that members of the Royal Family would join the ranks of those who have pledged to continue hunting despite the ban.
Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles and Princes William and Harry are all keen hunters.
Ms Jowell told GMTV’s Sunday Programme: “It would be inconceivable that a member of the Royal Family would continue to hunt, no matter what their passion for it.
“I’m quite sure that they’ll lead on that.”
By James Lyons and Nick Mead, PA
Police chiefs are right to give a low priority to enforcing the fox hunting ban, Home Secretary Charles Clarke said today.
The pastime will finally be outlawed across England and Wales on Friday after years of political controversy.
However, those who flout it may escape arrest according to internal documents from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), published in The Observer.
“This has not been afforded high priority in the National Policing Plan,” one memo said.
ACPO also reminds senior officers that the new law “confers a power to arrest, not a duty”.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has been keen to avoid a showdown with the pro-hunting lobby which has threatened a campaign of direct action in the run-up to the election.
Mr Clarke stressed that the policing of the ban was a matter for chief constables.
But he said: “If you look at the priorities police have to deal with – dealing with drugs, people trafficking, crime, all kinds of issues – I don’t expect fox hunting to be very high on the priorities of any particular police force.
“What I do believe is that the police will be very sensitive in the way they address it.”
That risks anger from Labour backbenchers who forced through the ban.
A massive show of civil disobedience is expected next weekend with up to 400,000 supporters flocking to 270 hunts.
Potentially violent meets are to be categorised in the same way as football matches, according to the ACPO documents.
However, Mr Clarke played down the potential for trouble and said policing would be “proportionate and effective”.
“As a matter of fact, I don’t believe there will be anything like the kind of lawlessness that some people have talked about,” he told Sky News’s Sunday with Adam Boulton.
“Most people involved in hunting are law abiding individuals and I think they will respect the law.”
Earlier, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said it was “inconceivable” that members of the Royal Family would join the ranks of those who have pledged to continue hunting despite the ban.
Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles and Princes William and Harry are all keen hunters.
Ms Jowell told GMTV’s Sunday Programme: “It would be inconceivable that a member of the Royal Family would continue to hunt, no matter what their passion for it.
“I’m quite sure that they’ll lead on that.”
