WHEN the government is preoccupied with economic recession and such major issues as the future of the NHS, and 76 per cent of the population support the ban on fox hunting, can the pro-hunting minority honestly expect to get their own way by defying reasonable legislation to protect wildlife?

The shocking 77 per cent of hunts acting suspiciously this season can only heighten support for the Hunting Act.

Almost a third of reports of such behaviour originated from south-west England, appalling incidents, such as one hunt panicking cattle and causing a heifer to lose her calf, and another private property owner suffering repeated trespass in spite of persistent communications, can only convince people that they are right to object to the use of dogs to harass wild animals to death for what amounts to a regressive idea of "sport".

This is self-evidently not "accidental hunting" when fox urine is trailed around known fox haunts, and hunt staff can expect and are aware of hounds reacting to a fox's presence, but do nothing to restrain them.

Pet dog owners have to respect dog control orders, why should huntsmen in charge of packs of hounds be allowed to create havoc?

More than a year after the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition Government came into power and in spite of Countryside Alliance supporters' hopes of repeal of the Hunting Act within that time, it remains in force, with on average one conviction per fortnight.

The police clearly can and do take action on information and evidence from networks and members of the public and should concentrate their efforts on the high incidence of hunt havoc and suspect activity in the Westcountry.

Katherine Watson

Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire