I AM unable to find anything 'daft' about a ban on chasing wild mammals with dogs for fun and making it unlawful to tear sentient creatures apart as a pleasurable past-time, Daft Hunting Act must be repealed, Points of view, March 7.

If Colin Richey considers the act to be the most ineffectual piece of legislation passed by a UK government, why is he so anxious for it to be repealed? The Act simply states that: "A person commits an offence if he hunts a wild mammal with a dog, unless his hunting is exempt."

It was inevitable that some hunters would endeavour to circumvent the law, by attempting to exploit the exempt provisions, but it is not difficult to understand that the intention of the legislation is to prohibit hunting and hare coursing for sport.

Mr Richey may be right to say that few prosecutions have been brought before the courts, but there are quite a number awaiting trial nationwide.

There have also been many cases where huntsmen have been charged and convicted for assaulting hunt monitors.

One such case is scheduled to be heard before Exeter Crown Court on Friday.

I have no reason to disagree with Mr Richey when he says it is a ridiculous assumption that hunting is only open to 'toffs' as he knows many people from the factory and shop floors who enjoy hunting.

Indeed, I know many people, from all walks of life, who voluntarily act as hunt monitors to facilitate prosecution of those who continue to persecute our wild animals in contravention of the Hunting Act.

As Mr Richey is knowledgeable on this subject, perhaps he could advise me whether hounds continue to be shot half way through their natural lives, at the age of six or seven, now that hunting is unlawful.

John Phelps

Argyll Road, Exeter

(by email)