Cotswolds ‘fox hunt killing’ prompts police to launch probe

Gloucestershire Police says it has launched an investigation into reports that a fox was killed on Wednesday, March 11, after it had been chased through the village of Condicote.

Campaign group Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs claimed it found a blood stain in a garden at the event put on by the Heythrop Hunt group, which is based at Swinbrook, near Burford.

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Videos taken by the campaigners and seen by this paper showed a number of hounds with red stains as they drink from buckets and plant pots.

The Hunting Act 2004 made it an offence for a person to hunt a wild mammal with a dog, unless the hunting falls within one of the exempt categories which includes certain forms of stalking and flushing out.

Dogs during the Heythrop Hunt in Condicote (Image: Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs)

The Labour Government has said it plans to ban trail hunting as part of their animal welfare reforms.

Gloucestershire Police has said that information can be provided online by completing this form and quoting the incident reference 252 of March 11.

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A police spokesperson said: “We can confirm police received a report in relation to an alleged illegal fox hunt in Condicote near Stow-on-the-Wold on Wednesday, March 11 with a report that a fox had been killed.

“An investigation is ongoing and police would like to hear from anyone who has any information in relation to this report.”

The Heythrop Hunt has been approached for comment.