Fox hunting with dogs is now illegal in England and Wales after a ban on the activity came into force overnight.

The law faces a stiff test this weekend, with the Countryside Alliance saying many hunts will be out in force.

But chief police officers spokesman Nigel Yeo said he expected most people would obey the law - by drag hunting or chasing foxes then shooting them.

Government Response: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Rural affairs minister Alun Michael said: "Hunt supporters have the right to demonstrate legally and to take action in the courts, but they do not have the right to flout a law that has been passed lawfully by a large majority of democratically elected Members of Parliament.

"The government has remained confident of its position throughout this challenge. We are also confident in respect of a quite separate action brought by the Alliance under human rights legislation. It is important to realise that even if the Human Rights Act challenge were to succeed, this would not affect the continuing validity of the Hunting Act.

"The hunting community have always said they are law-abiding members of the community and I expect them to keep to their word.

"From now on, if people set out to hunt a wild mammal with dogs - whether it be a fox, a mink, a hare or a deer - they will be breaking the law. It will then be up to the police to investigate and to gather evidence for a prosecution.

"If a court finds an offence has been committed, it can lead to a fine of up to £5,000, a criminal record and confiscation of dogs, vehicles, or articles used for hunting.
"In terms of policing the ban, it will be for chief constables to determine how this is done.

"However, it is worth noting that the Association of Chief Police Officers has said that the resources needed to police the ban would be similar to those previously needed to police anti-hunt protests.

"There is no doubt about what the law entails and claims by some hunts that there is confusion is simply ill-informed. Those who want to live within the law will have no difficulty doing so. I am particularly pleased that hunts are now talking about an intention to hunt within the law.

"That means doing all that is traditionally associated with hunting from the stirrup cup to red coats to enjoying a day in the fresh air, and that should cause problems for no-one - as long as they don't use their dogs to hunt a wild mammal."

Stakeholder Response: International Fund for Animal Welfare

Phyllis Campbell-McRae IFAW UK director said: "IFAW is celebrating the hunt ban but not the end of our campaign. There is a huge network of supporters and voluntary hunt monitors out there who will be acting as the eyes and ears of the countryside to protect British wildlife.

“I hope hunters will see sense and choose to obey the law but, for those who don’t, we will help bring them to justice. No-one is above the law."

Stakeholder Response: Animal Defenders

Tim Phillips, campaigns director at Animal Defenders (ADI), said: "Animal Defenders International welcomes the ban on hunting with hounds and commends all of the MPs who have worked so hard to bring about an end to this cruelty.

"Hunted animals, and indeed other animals who accidentally stray into the paths of the hounds, will all be saved from considerable suffering. In addition, the new legislation takes an important step forward in eradicating violence and cruelty in the name of entertainment.

"The country should be proud to be able to say that chasing with hounds and killing foxes, hares, and deer for fun is not acceptable here.
"We believe that the police should take a firm stand enforcing the law on Saturday and in the coming weeks.

"The bravado and the threats of the hunters will steadily disappear and those with an interest beyond killing will turn to drag hunting.

“In the future people will look back on hunting with hounds in the same way that badger baiting, cock fighting, and bear baiting are regarded - as relics of an ignorant and cruel past."

Stakeholder Response: Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)

Alastair McWhirter, ACPO spokesman on hunting with dogs and Chief Constable of Suffolk Constabulary, said: "Police forces will enforce the new legislation alongside the national policing plan issued by the Home Secretary in late November and in the light of their own local policing plan which sets priorities for policing in each area.

"Enforcing the law in the early days will require a significant commitment of resources and the consequences of this will be carefully examined.

"The ACPO public order working group is now examining the finalised legislation and will be working to prepare guidance for police forces on the practical aspects of enforcing the new law when it takes effect at the end of February 2005.

“The details of this will not be divulged as, if made public, they could compromise operational policing."