Anti-hunting groups have published footage of a 4×4 ramming two cars on the side of a road. And they claim the “premeditated” attack is a sign of escalating violence.
Intentional attack
Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs and Manchester Hunt Saboteurs published footage of the incident that occurred on 16 March. It shows a dark blue Toyota Land Cruiser following cars owned by the groups throughout the day. And the video culminates in someone wearing a balaclava driving the Toyota into the side of two cars parked on the side of the road. The video shows a car passing in front of the Toyota moments before it attacks the sab vehicles.
Manchester Hunt Saboteurs said they were attending a meet by the Grove and Rufford Hunt near Newark in Nottinghamshire when the cars were rammed. The group said the attack caused “extensive damage” to the car and left it unable to continue. And Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs said the attack was:
premeditated as the Land Cruiser had no front number plate and a rear number plate that was intentionally smeared with something to make it unreadable.
https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterHuntSabs/videos/495326304331892/
In its report, Manchester Hunt Saboteurs said Nottinghamshire Police were in the area at the time of the incident. But the group claimed police only acted to disperse sabs. As a result, Manchester Hunt Saboteurs said it was “pretty disappointed with the way Nottingham Police have dealt with this matter so far”.
Other incidents
Sabs linked the Grove and Rufford Hunt to two attacks in less than a week. On 12 March, Lincoln Hunt Saboteurs claimed attackers “rammed twice” their vehicle while following the Grove and Rufford Hunt. The post also said West Yorkshire Hunt Saboteurs’ vehicle was left with a broken windscreen and wing mirror.
Meanwhile, the same hunt was again linked to threatening behaviour on 19 January. West Yorkshire Hunt Saboteurs published a video that showed a man they claimed was a “hunt thug” making threats while attempting to enter the group’s vehicle.
Increasing violence
Hunt saboteurs and monitors claim they face increasing violence. Manchester Hunt Saboteurs said that the lack of punishment by the courts gives hunts and their supporters “confidence”.
There have been several such high profile cases in recent years. Members of the Middleton Hunt escaped penalty after a trial collapsed in February. The case concerned an incident in March 2017 when hunt staff repeatedly attacked sabs from Sheffield and West Yorkshire. And in September 2016, Blackmore and Sparksford Vale Hunt huntsman Mark Doggrell was cleared of grievous bodily harm. Video from the incident appeared to show him riding down a sab with his horse.
These are just two incidents of many more that never make the press. As public opinion and action against hunting grows, it seems the activity’s supporters are lashing out more and more violently. The police and legal system must take this seriously.
Featured image via Facebook – Manchester Hunt Saboteurs
