Family in tears after Dartmoor fox hunt distress

A Devon family has vowed not to visit Dartmoor again after claiming to see saw a fox hunt "running amok". Laura Reid, her two young children from Crediton and her mother were distraught after they saw the Mid Devon Hunt riding across moorland near Belstone.

They claimed the hounds were "going crazy", indicating they were on the trail of a fox. Foxhounds were seen running through gorse before surrounding a copse, all the time in full cry - the sound they make when chasing a fox.

Anti-hunt group the League Against Cruel Sports is calling for stronger fox hunting laws and the national park authority to take steps to prevent incidents like this from ever happening again.

READ MORE: Tiverton High School headteacher announces sudden departure

READ MORE: Devon businesses 'wiped out' in devastating fire

Laura said: “What we saw and heard was really disturbing. It was a live hunt going after a fox with its dogs going crazy. My mum was crying and my children were left upset all week. Dartmoor National Park was our happy place, where we could walk and enjoy nature, but we will never go again after seeing this really disturbing incident.”

Laura saw 30 hounds, around 18 people on horseback and several spectators watching through binoculars before calling the police but has yet to receive a response.

John Petrie, senior campaigns manager at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “This shocking incident in which a family was left in tears is yet another example of a fox hunt behaving as they did before the ban and brazenly chasing foxes.

“The Government needs to strengthen fox hunting laws by banning the discredited excuse of so-called trail hunting used by hunts, removing the loopholes in the Hunting Act, and introducing custodial sentences for those caught breaking the law.

“Dartmoor National Park Authority should join other national parks across England and Wales in denying fox hunts access to their land.”

Trail hunting has been described by temporary Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman, the most senior police officer in England with responsibility for fox hunting crime, as a “smokescreen for illegal fox hunting”.

The incident took place on Saturday, November 16 and was reported to the League’s Animal Crimewatch service.

Devon National Park said in a statement: "Trail hunting rights on Dartmoor are almost exclusively in private ownership and the majority of trail hunting activity on Dartmoor is facilitated by private landowners who provide individual consents. There is zero tolerance for wildlife crime in the National Park.

"Dartmoor National Park Authority are actively engaged with Devon and Cornwall Police through the Dartmoor Rural Crime Initiative and with other statutory bodies such as Natural England to ensure that those who commit a wildlife crime are prosecuted. If anyone thinks they have witnessed a wildlife crime we would encourage them to contact Devon and Cornwall Police by reporting a crime online. If a crime is happening where someone is in danger, call 999.

The Countryside Alliance, which promotes and protects hunts, has not commented on the incident.

Want the latest Devon breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice