Member's statement: Hunting Act: 20th Anniversary
Member's statement by Mr John Blair on .
- MLA
- Mr John Blair
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 18 February 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Hunting Act: 20th Anniversary
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4806114
Read the official Assembly record
Text
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the Hunting Act 2004 coming into force. The Act banned hunting with dogs in England and Wales and represented a significant step forward that was celebrated by many who believed that it would put an end to unnecessary cruelty being inflicted on animals. However, while we celebrate the milestone of that positive development, we must also address the concerns that have been raised since the introduction of the Act. Loopholes such as the "Research and observation" exemption continue to be exploited by organised hunts. Additionally, the practice of so-called trail hunting, which involves hounds tracking a scent instead of chasing a live animal, exploits weaknesses in the law, allowing hunts to operate as they did before the ban. That exploitation undermines the very principles that the Hunting Act was designed to uphold. The statistics are troubling. According to the British Hound Sports Association and media reports, there have been more than 250,000 days of hunting over the past 20 years yet only 25 convictions involving hunts. That raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the legislation and whether it adequately protects our wildlife. Since July, following a manifesto commitment, it has been the UK Government's policy to strengthen the Act by banning trail hunting. That marks a significant achievement in the effort to completely eliminate hunting with dogs in England and Wales. However, it is crucial that the Labour Government translate that commitment into legislation and action. Furthermore, in 2023, Scotland successfully strengthened its 2002 hunting legislation, enhancing regulation and successfully banning trail hunting. That has positioned Scotland as a leader in banning hunting with dogs. Conversely, the situation in Northern Ireland is quite different from that in Scotland, England and Wales. There is no ban on hunting with dogs. As Members may be aware, I intend to change that through a private Member's Bill. My recent consultation on the proposed Bill revealed that 80% of respondents living in Northern Ireland believe that ending hunting with dogs is important to them. That statistic sends out a clear message. While we take the opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of the Hunting Act after 20 years, we must recognise the ongoing work required to close the remaining gaps and ensure the welfare of our animals. We must ensure that all regions uphold the same standards of compassion and protection for our animals and wildlife, about which we claim to be so passionate.
407 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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