SINCE the Hunting Act came into force in 2005 hunts have become very secretive about their activities.

Prior to the ban hunts used to advertise their meets — usually two or three times per week — in the press and hunt magazines.

They no longer do so. Quite the opposite, in fact. Although they claim to hunt within the law, they go to great lengths to prevent us from finding them.

Our camcorders could confirm their claim but, in fact, when we do find them our films record hunts and their followers obstructing our vision, blocking in our vehicles and verbally abusing and intimidating us. We suggest that such behaviour is inconsistent with lawful activity.

We further suggest that the police know illegal hunting with dogs is rife but refuse to do anything about it, claiming it is "not a priority". In our experience it is not a case of a simple lack of interest — the police disinterest is tangible.

At the inception of the Hunting Act we put away our hunting horns and scent-dulling sprays and used camcorders to monitor hunts.

Hunters and their supporters, however, chose to obstruct our sight lines, preventing us from filming what we suspected was illegal activity.

We then reverted to our practice of peaceful direct intervention: using scent-dulling sprays to mask the scent of the quarry, and hunting horns and voice calls to distract hounds from hunting live animals.

We are absolutely delighted that Lush is running a three-pronged campaign, highlighting what we believe to be blatant flouting of the law by hunts, failure of the police to enforce legislation, and raising funds to enable us more effectively and more often to save the lives of Britain's beautiful and precious wildlife.

Hayden Macey

Press officer

South Devon Animal Rights