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Police defend hare-coursing case
POLICE have defended the investigation which led to the trial and conviction of former championship racehorse trainer Peter Easterby and huntsman Major John Shaw for hosting hare-coursing events on their land.
Both men were given absolute discharges by district judge Christine Harrison, who did not make any order for costs.
The judgment in the landmark case at Scarborough Magistrates' Court was accompanied by harsh words on the Hunting Act.
Judge Harrison said: "There is no doubt that everyone in this case has had extreme difficulty in wrestling what Parliament meant by the Act.
"I have two gentlemen here who have never been in trouble with the courts and who took every step to ensure what they were doing was legal – and yet they find themselves in this position.
"I am also extremely concerned that a police officer attended on the first day and that Major Shaw explained to him what was going on before the police officer went off happy in his own mind with what was happening."
Acting assistant chief constable Steve Read, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "I understand this issue is highly emotive, with strong views on either side of the debate. However, it is important not to lose focus about this case. The fact of the matter is that this investigation resulted in the conviction of the two defendants.
"To put it into context nationally, I believe this is the first successful prosecution pursued by a police force in England and Wales under Section 5 of the Hunting with Dogs Act since it came into force in 2005.
"I therefore congratulate the wildlife crime officer who led the investigation into this very complex and challenging case."
A/ACC Read added: ''This case highlights the complexities of interpreting and enforcing the Hunting with Dogs Act. But it also proves that the Act can, with the requisite amount of skillful investigation, be enforced successfully.
"North Yorkshire police officers are trained to deal with wildlife crime as part of their development. And our specialist wildlife crime officers are a credit to the force.
"This case also highlights the fact that, although we would never have sufficient officers to monitor every rural activity in a policing area which is the largest in England, we are very willing to conduct the necessary professional investigation when presented with evidence indicating that offences have been committed."
Robbie Marsland, UK director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said: "IFAW is delighted at the guilty verdicts. The judge unequivocally ruled that this was hare coursing, illegal under the Hunting Act."
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
