SNP ministers have been accused of “staggering complacency” over their fox hunting ban amid claims a loophole in the new law is being “exploited”. The Daily Record exclusively revealed in August how 41 licences for hunting with packs of dogs have been issued since the prohibition came into effect last year – including three quarters of cases permitting packs of at least 20 dogs.
And we uncovered evidence that at least one of Scotland’s infamous mounted hunts may have used licensed fox control to continue their activities. The Scottish Greens say the licensing scheme is allowing the cruel practice of fox hunting to “continue through the back door”.
But challenged on the Record’s revelations at Holyrood earlier this month, Nationalist ministers brushed off the findings and insisted the licences were for “predator control” and not fox hunting. When the Hunting With Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 was passed, the licensing scheme was controversial – with campaigners warning huntsmen could exploit the system to continue the barbaric blood sport.
Wildlife agency NatureScot and the Scottish Government have both insisted all licences issued have been to prevent serious damage to livestock.
Grilled by MSPs on the concerns raised by the Record, Agriculture and Connectivity Minister Jim Fairlie said: “The licensing scheme in the 2023 is act not a loophole… Fox hunting is absolutely against the principles of the people of Scotland, but predator control is not.
“Hunting with more than two dogs is licensed in specific circumstances to make sure that farm managers and landowners can protect the livestock and the wildlife in their area.”
Speaking to the Record, Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess hit back: “The Scottish Government is showing staggering complacency if this is how they envisaged the system working. The number of licences that have been issued makes clear that this is being treated as a loophole and exploited.
“When this legislation passed, the Scottish Government’s position was that fox hunting should have no place in a modern Scotland, but they are letting it continue through the back door. As long as we leave loopholes there will be hunters taking advantage of them, that’s why the Scottish Greens were so opposed to the licencing scheme in the first place.
“The public supports a watertight ban, and that’s what many thought was being introduced. It’s clear that a lot more rigour needs to be applied if we are to finally stop this cruel and violent sport for good.”
A new ban on hunting with dogs came into effect last October which it was hoped would end the practice for good – placing a two-dog limit on hunts unless a strict special licence is sought. But we revealed how just two of the 41 licences issued between November and April were monitored for compliance.
NatureScot, which issues the licences, stressed not all licences were used, and said just 30 cases led to licensed hunting activities. It also defended the compliance monitoring as “proportionate and robust” – saying only four dog handlers had been named across all the licences issued, and two of these had been monitored.
Fairlie told MSPs: “NatureScot has carried out a number of visits to ensure that any activity that is undertaken is strictly in accordance with the licence. It is currently carrying out a planned review of the licensing scheme, and we will consider the findings and take any further action as required.”
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